Lectures about "Municipal Amalgamation and its alternatives. A European Comparison"

Institute of Politological Studies, Charles University, Prague (17.-19.2.2016)

Teaching methods

· Mostly oral presentation in English in a lecture mode

· Collaborative oral discussions of the Czech case on the basis of short presentations of the students for the following themes (10 minutes each):

o Policy of Territorial Choice in the Czech Republic;

o Status quo of local government structure in the Czech Republic;

o Reasons for the territorial fragmentation in the Czech Republic;

o Consequences of the territorial fragmentation in the Czech Republic;

o Problems of local governance in the Czech Republic.

· Written essay in German or English on a theme of the course (for all students without presentation)

Goals of the course

· Mapping and explaining the reasons for different territorial choice policies in Europe. Traditions, Strategies and Actors (Amalgamation of municipalities and its alternatives)

· Presentation of some case studies of local territorial policies in Denmark, Spain, Germany and Czech Republic (most similar design) as basis for an European comparison

· Discussing the goal conflict of territorial choice between increasing administrative efficiency and viability of local democracy and participation due to the dual nature of local government as public services provider and place for local democracy (impacts, implications and effects of amalgamation)

· Conclusion of the course: Homogenization or fragmentation of municipal structure in Europe? Conclusions for further research

Programme

Thursday, 18.2.2016

o 11.10 - 12.30 Lecture I (Introduction)

o 12.30 - 13.50 Lecture II (IMC as alternative to amalgamation)

o 14.00 - 15.20 clock Lecture III (German cases)

Friday, 19.2.2016

o 11.10 - 12.30 Lecture IV (Danish case)

o 12.30 - 13.50 Lecture V (Spanish case)

o 14.00 - 15.20 Lecture IV (Czech case and conclusions)

Literature

· Baldersheim, H. & Rose, L. (2010): Territorial Choice: The Politics of Boundaries and Borders (London: Palgrave Macmillan).

· Bish, R. (2001): "Local Government Amalgamations, Discredited Nineteenth Ideals Alive in the Twenty-First Century". The Urban Papers, no 150. Toronto: C.D. How Institute Commentary.

· Franzke, J. (2006): Representation and Participation in New Unitary Municipalities. Cases from the German Federal State Brandenburg; in: Franzke, J. (ed.): Making Civil Societies Work, Potsdam: University Publishing House, pp. 154-169.

· Illner, M. (2010): Bottom-up territorial consolidation in the Czech Republic?, in: P. Swianiewicz (Ed.): Territorial Consolidation Reforms in Europe, pp. 221-236 (Budapest: LGI - Open Society Institute).

(http://lgi.osi.hu/publications/2010/412/Territorial_Consolidation_Reform_final_WEB.pdf)

· Keating, M. (1995): Size, efficiency and democracy: consolidation, fragmentation and public choice, in: D. Judge, G. Stoker & H. Wolman (Eds.) Theories of Urban Politics, pp. 117-134 (London: Sage).

· Swianiewicz, P. (2010): If Territorial Fragmentation is a Problem, is Amalgamation a Solution? An East European Perspective, Local Government Studies, 36:2, 183-203. (http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/03003930903560547)

· Swianiewicz, P. (Ed.) (2010): Territorial Consolidation Reforms in Europe (Budapest: LGI - Open Society Institute).

(http://lgi.osi.hu/publications/2010/412/Territorial_Consolidation_Reform_final_WEB.pdf)