2024 | Buch

Local Government and Governance in Germany

Challenges, Responses and Perspectives

verfasst von: Hellmut Wollmann

Verlag: Springer International Publishing

Enthalten in: Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik" , Springer Professional "Technik" , Springer Professional "Wirtschaft"

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Über dieses Buch

Das Buch zielt darauf ab, zentrale politische, funktionale, administrative und finanzielle Merkmale des deutschen Kommunalverwaltungssystems zu skizzieren und in eine (europäische) vergleichende Perspektive zu stellen. Bei der Verfolgung eines "institutionalistischen" Ansatzes konzentriert sie sich darauf, zu diskutieren, ob, wie und warum sich die Position und Aktivitäten lokaler Regierungen im zwischenstaatlichen ("Mehrebenen-") Umfeld angesichts zahlreicher Herausforderungen und Krisen verändert haben. Zu den letztgenannten Aufgaben gehören die Bewältigung der Energiekrise, der Zustrom von Asylsuchenden und Flüchtlingen, die Digitalisierung der lokalen Verwaltung und die Covid19-Pandemie. Deutschlands Kommunalverwaltungen, die zu den funktionell und politisch stärksten unter den europäischen Ländern gehören, spielen im deutschen föderalen System und darüber hinaus in der Europäischen Union eine wichtige Rolle. Im Laufe der Jahre hat sie sich als bemerkenswerte Problemlösungs- und Innovationsfähigkeit erwiesen. Daher könnte der deutsche Fall die Aufmerksamkeit eines europäischen und internationalen Publikums auf sich ziehen, das sich für lokale Regierungen, Regierungsführung und Praktiken interessiert.

Mit KI übersetzt

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Frontmatter

Chapter 1. Introduction

Abstract

Historically Germany’s local government level has played a major political, administrative and socio-economic role in the country’s political system. Recently it has faced an all but unprecedented “accumulation” and “overlapping” of challenges and crises (such as climate change and energy crisis, massive influx of migrants and asylum seekers, repercussion of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine). This book is meant to provide an overview and analysis of the long-term development and current state of local government in focusing on recent challenges and responses.

Hellmut Wollmann

Chapter 2. Position and Functions of Local Government in Germany’s Federal Multi-level System

Abstract

After giving a concise view of the distribution of competences and functions in Germany’s federal multi-level system to which, since the creation of the European Union in 1993, a European level has been added. Chapter 2 focuses on and outlines the position and functions which the local government level has in the multi-level setting. Due to the traditional “dual task” model the local authorities carry out self-government tasks as well as tasks “delegated” to them by the Länder which makes them rank among the functionally strongest local government systems in Europe. In conclusion the chapter sketches the institutions and procedures through which the local government level sways the decision-making of the “upper” government levels.

Hellmut Wollmann

Chapter 3. Local Political Actors and Arena

Abstract

In this chapter lays out that the traditional format of a (“quasi-parliamentary”) local political system based on elected local councils and council-elected mayors has been profoundly reshaped since 1990 by the introduction of all Länder of direct democracy-characteristic procedures: the direct election of the mayor and county commissioner (Landrat), their possible direct-democratic recall and binding local referendums. Consequently in the triad of local council, local executive and local citizenry the position of the elected local executive has been significantly bolstered moving it towards a local “quasi-presidential” system.

Moreover the chapter deals with council elections and the development and role of political parties and other local political groups on the local level arena.

Hellmut Wollmann

Chapter 4. Local Administration

Abstract

In this chapter deals with the organizational development which local administration has gone through. Historically the municipal “core” administration has been “path-dependently” marked by a legal rule-guided hierarchical administrative structure. Since the early 1990s the New Public Management (NPM)-inspired “New Steering Model” (NSM) has been introduced to rectify the traditional (“Weberian”) administrative structure by adopting managerialist concepts and maxims such as output-based performance management, outsourcing. Subsequently in combining traditional and NSM-derived elements local authorities have moved towards a “Neo-Weberian” administrative scheme.

Hellmut Wollmann

Chapter 5. Digitization of Public and Local Administration

Abstract

In responding to the growing public concern that with regard to the digitization of its public administration Germany is falling alarmingly behind other European countries the federal government in 2017 initiated legislation (Digital Access Act, OZG) and set the ambitious goal to promote and achieve the comprehensive digitization of public administration on all government levels within 5 years, that is, by the end of 2022. Although noticeable advances in the digitization of public administration have since been made at the same time serious hurdles and delays have occurred. Among the latter looms large the difficulty innate in the federal multi-level system to bring to bear the coordinated implementation of a common digital strategy and scheme. Moreover the local authorities have been hampered in digitizing their administration by financial scarcity and the shortage of IT-skilled personnel.

Hellmut Wollmann

Chapter 6. Local Government Personnel

Abstract

In this chapter gives a (data-based) overview of the public personnel in Germany’s multi-level system with a focus on the local government level.

Breaking down the public employees by government levels and task areas lends itself to analyse the vertical distribution of administrative functions in the multi-level system as well as horizontally the size and functional profile of the respective government level as well as of the different types of local authorities. Judged by the average personnel strength in key task areas the county-free municipalities stand out in the performance of local government responsibilities.

Hellmut Wollmann

Chapter 7. Local Government Finances

Abstract

In this chapter outlines the constitutional and legal frame of the local government finances in the federal multi-level system and lays out the structure and composition of the revenues and expenditures of the local authorities. Whereas until 2019 the local authorities found themselves in an overall balanced budgetary situation they have since run into growing budgetary deficits due to the mounting tasks and challenges.

Hellmut Wollmann

Chapter 8. Provision of Public and Personal Social Services

Abstract

In this chapter addresses the provision of personal social services and of public services. The provision of personal social services (such as elder care) has historically been marked by the predominant role of non-public non-profit organization based on the principle of subsidiarity. Following the market liberalization set off by the federal legislation of 1994 private sector providers began to prevail. Contrarily public services (such as water supply, sewage, energy etc.) have historically been largely provided by actors and companies owned by or connected with the local authorities exemplified by the municipal utilities (Stadtwerke). Under the EU-driven market liberalization since the 1980s the latter lost ground to the private sector competitors before the reverse trend of “remunicipalization” gained momentum.

Hellmut Wollmann

Chapter 9. Combatting Unemployment

Abstract

In this chapter addresses the various phases and changes which the involvement of the local authorities in combatting unemployment has undergone. It highlights the reform of 2004 which ushered in a profound financial and organizational reform of social and unemployment assistance. In its wake, a quarter of the pertinent local authorities “opted” (as so-called “opted local authorities”, Optionskommunen) to attend the long-term unemployed in a stand-alone comprehensive responsibility which has no parallel in other countries.

Hellmut Wollmann

Chapter 10. Assisting Asylum Seekers and Refugees

Abstract

The influx of asylum seekers and refugees that peaked in 2015/16 and has dramatically risen again since Russia’ invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 has increasingly impacted on the EU’s decision-making and has profoundly shaped Germany’s political, financial and operational agenda. This applies in particular to the local authorities in their prime responsibility and task to accommodate and integrate the asylum seekers and refugees.

Hellmut Wollmann

Chapter 11. Involvement in the “Energy Transition” (“Energiewende”)

Abstract

Triggered by the nuclear disaster of Fukushima in 2011 the federal government embarked on an internationally unprecedented “energy transition” (“Energiewende”) which revolves around terminating the nuclear power generation by 2022 and sets the goal to have the county’s energy consumption almost entirely generated from renewable sources by 2030. In focusing on the involvement of the local authorities in achieving the “energy transition” the chapter outlines the broad spectrum of pertinent measures and activities pursued by them, inter alia, pertaining to energy saving, generation and use of renewable (solar, wind) energy, district heating etc. Moreover, the significant involvement of the municipal utilities (Stadtwerke) and also of the energy cooperatives is spelt out and highlighted.

Hellmut Wollmann

Chapter 12. Extended Responsibilities of the Local Authorities in the School Sector

Abstract

In the past the Länder had the sole operational and financial responsibility for the school sector while the local authorities were tasked with the “technical” school matters. Since the early 2000, alarmed by the findings of the OECD’s PISA studies, the federal government has financially intervened in the school sector, inter alia, by promoting all-day schools and, since 2017, the digitization of the schools. Against this backdrop the local authorities have widened their responsibilities and activities to improve the digital and educational performance of the schools. Local “education landscapes” has been formed to mobilize a broad range of local level education-related public/municipal and non-public actors and organizations.

Hellmut Wollmann

Chapter 13. Coping with the Covid-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Traditionally Germany has a decentralized public health system in which the local health authorities (Gesundheitsämter) play a pivotal role in exercising a wide range of health inspection and infection disease prevention functions. In reacting to the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic in early 2020 extremely fast a “centralized” crisis management regime co-directed by the federal and the Länder governments was put in place. Subsequently the rapidly expanding panoply of local level measures and activities (vaccination, lockdowns, testing, tracing, monitoring etc.) was carried out under “centralized” guidance. As soon as the pandemic was regarded overcome in early 2023 the decentral local health authorities have resumed their traditional responsibility in infection control and prevention.

Hellmut Wollmann

Chapter 14. Reconstruction of Local Government in East Germany Following German Unification

Abstract

In this chapter deals with the historically unparalleled system change and political, institutional and functional transformation which East Germany’s local government level has undergone following the German Unification. Among the unique features, inter alia, stands out that the multi-dimensional institutional transition from the centralist Socialist government regime to democratically elected local government was achieved strikingly fast and that the East German local authorities and their personnel proved, in a surprisingly short time, to be capable to effectively act and perform in an entirely changed legal and institutional frame and environment.

Hellmut Wollmann

Chapter 15. Summary and Conclusions

Abstract

In responding to recent multiple challenges (climate and energy crisis, influx of migrants and asylum seekers, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine etc.) Germany’s multi-level political system has, on the one hand, experienced a “centralizing” shift through increased political, legislative and financial interventions and measures of the federal government (as well as of the EU). On the other hand, the political, administrative and and operational role and standing of the local authorities as “decentral” actor level has grown with the accompanying expansion of their responsibilities and tasks. While the local government level has exhibited an overall impressive track record in past and current performance and achievements, enduring shortcomings as well as looming imponderabilities (potential deepening of the migration and asylum crisis, Russia’s still ongoing invasion of Ukraine etc) put the political and financial viability of local government at risk.

Hellmut Wollmann

Backmatter

Titel: Local Government and Governance in Germany
verfasst von: Hellmut Wollmann
Verlag: Springer International Publishing
Electronic ISBN: 978-3-031-68354-1
Print ISBN: 978-3-031-68353-4
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-68354-1