Premium
The fragmentation of local government in Scandinavia
Author(s) -
BOGASON PETER
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
european journal of political research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.267
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 1475-6765
pISSN - 0304-4130
DOI - 10.1111/j.1475-6765.1996.tb00668.x
Subject(s) - fragmentation (computing) , local government , corporate governance , public administration , democracy , political science , public service , government (linguistics) , public relations , business , politics , law , finance , linguistics , philosophy , computer science , operating system
Over 10 to 15 years, an organizational fragmentation of Scandinavian local government has come about by the introduction of neighbourhood councils, user‐governed public service institutions, contracting out of services and experimental, particularized state grants to the localities. Consequently, users come into focus, territorial democracy is challenged, and new forms of inter‐governmental relations abound. This calls for alternatives to the traditional analysis of local government with less emphasis on formal organizational analysis and more on governance and inter‐organizational links. There are indications that contrary to aspirations, the influence of professionals is not reduced by the changes and consequently increased user influence is not given, but there is a need for more analysis along the lines suggested.