The Palgrave handbook of decentralisation in Europe

This handbook provides an authoritative study of European decentralisation, taking into account, from a territorial perspective, the different political and administrative traditions in Europe (Continental, Anglo-Saxon and Ex-communist States) and the cleavages North-South and East-West.

While in recent decades most European countries have implemented devolution policies trying to tackle different political, social or bureaucratic problems, some others have instead regionalised their territory, applied federal or pseudo-federal reforms and strengthened the role of subnational governments.

This volume analyses decentralisation in these countries using different variables including history, territorial organisation, civil service and financing, and reveals how this phenomenon leads to complex intergovernmental linkages.

The evolution of territorial decentralisation, the political tensions between centre and periphery, the autonomy of the subnational governments and their functions and competences, the tools of co-ordination and co-operation, and the features and role of civil service are the main issues studied here with an interdisciplinary approach.

Contents

1. The process of decentralisation in Europe - Robert Savy, Hélène Pauliat and Michel Senimon
2. Birds of the same feather: federalism and decentralisation in Germany - Dominic Heinz
3. Federalism and decentralisation in Belgium - Jean-François Husson, Céline Mahieu and Caroline Sägesser
4. Functional federalism in a complex state: the case of Spain - José M. Ruano
5. Constitutional reform and territorial organisation in Italy - Giuseppe Bettoni
6. Fragmentation and central control: competing forces in a Disunited Kingdom - June Burnham
7. Decentralisation in France: a principle in permanent evolution - Agnès Sauviat
8. The Irish case: Decentralisation-lite? - Bríd Quinn
9. Decentralisation in the Netherlands: decision making close to the people or efficient organisation of the state? - L.J. Zwaan
10. Extensive decentralisation: but in the shadow of hierarchy - Kristin Reichborn-Kjennerud and Signy Irene Vabo
11. Combining centralisation and decentralisation in Danish public administration - Sevasti Chatzopoulou and Birgitte Poulsen
12. From centralism to decentralisation and back to recentralisation due to the economic crisis: findings and lessons learnt from the Greek experience - Stella Kyvelou and Nektaria Marava
13. Rebirth of local government in Poland: 25 Years of decentralisation reform - Marcin Sakowicz
14. The decentralisation process in Romania - Constantin Marius Profiroiu, Alina Georgiana Profiroiu and Septimiu Rares Szabo
15. Decentralisation and local governance in Lithuania - Eglé Stonkuté and Eglé Gaule
16. The swinging pendulum of decentralisation in Hungary - István Temesi
17. Decentralisation as an essential element of public administration reform in Slovakia - Jana Marasova and Maria Horehajova
18. Conclusions: intergovernmental networks and decentralisation in Europe - José M. Ruano and Marius Profiroiu

Electronic access is available to those with the appropriate contract via Springer Link.