This paper begins with highlighting tensions between proposals made by the social democratic government during the years 1998 to 2002, on the one hand, and the government bill from spring 2002 on the other hand. Secondly, attention is paid to tensions between central government democracy policy proposals, local political reactions among politicians and the general development of local democracy. Thirdly, examples of challenges from a critical democratic point of view are discussed.
By way of introduction, some basic features of the central- local government relations, the basic local government political organisational structure, and its dominating normative model are presented.

The purpose of this paper is to understand how urban governance  can become more democratic.

If “deepening” urban democracy means facilitating a political community and not just making authorative decision making more effective, then there should be inherent communicative relations between political and professional institutions. This means that the two distinct perspectives on local democracy should be taken seriously in order to be able to understand that “democracy” can mean quite different things for those who are inside the traditional and powerful institutions and those who stand outside.

College of Urban planning & public affairs
Stig Montin

01/03/2004

Stig Montin

research

Urban Policy > Social inclusion & integration > Community development

Citizens' participation