TY - BOOK A1 - Franzke, Jochen T1 - Slovak Telecom administration : transformation and regulation in a dynamic market N2 - This study is analysing the transformation of Slovak administration in the telecommunication sector between 1989 and 2004. The dynamic telecom sector forms a good example for the transition problems of post-socialist administration with special regard to the regulation regime change. After describing briefly the role of the telecom sector within economy, the Slovak sectoral policy is analysed. The focus is layed on telecom legislation (including the regulation framework), liberalization of the telecom market and privatisation of the former state owned telecom operator. The transformation of the organizational structure of the "Slovak telecommunication administration" is analysed in particular at the level of the ministry and the regulating agency. T3 - Forschungspapiere "Probleme der Öffentlichen Verwaltung in Mittel- und Osteuropa" - 06 KW - Verwaltung KW - Slowakei KW - Telekommunikation KW - Regulierung Y1 - 2005 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-6530 SN - 978-3-939469-00-1 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Franzke, Jochen T1 - Rezension zu: The Routledge handbook of international local government / edited by Richard Kerley, Joyce Liddle and Pamela T. Dunning. - London: Routledge, 2018. - 528 pp. - ISBN: 978- 11-3823-472-7, ISBN: 978-1-31530-627-8 JF - Local government studies N2 - When I took up the task of writing a review of the Routledge handbook of international local government, it occurred to me, as a member of the generation of the 1950s, that I had not even considered whether such compendiums were even necessary in times of easy internet searching. This review will look at whether that is indeed the case. Social-science handbooks naturally are very broad. This also applies to the particular handbook under review. It comprises six content-thematic parts with 33 chapters by 73 authors from 21 countries, with the UK and USA dominant. The focal points, discussed in more detail below, are local elections and local governance, local governments in different jurisdictions, the challenges of local government services, citizen engagement in local affairs, and local authorities in multi-level finance systems that shape how municipal governments ‘get and spend’ public money. These are exactly the topics actually discussed in the international community of political scientists. As a preliminary, the editors work out the theoretical-methodological foundations of the topic. They define ‘the local’ as ‘geographically defined sub-national state administrative or political divisions’ (p. 3). As next steps, they analyse the difference between government and governance, and investigate whether local government is globally important and relevant. Fortunately, they conclude that this is indeed the case. Part I of the handbook illustrates ‘substantive variations’ in the local electoral systems and ‘notable divergences in the values and assumptions of local governance among democratic countries’ (p. 23). That topic is indeed central to local authorities’ legitimacy in democratic political systems. The focus of this part of the handbook is on current research and debates around local electoral systems, the challenges of local political leadership and the councillor’s role in modern local policy. Current trends at the local level are analysed from the actors’ perspectives or from an economic point of view by comparing institutionalised differences in city managers, mayors and council members across different jurisdictions. Sections that investigate traditional leadership and local government in Pacific Island countries are of particular interest to most Western readers, because in Europe and North America we know too little about such issues in that part of the world. Part II of the handbook presents current development processes and challenges in various local government systems. The chapters are territorially oriented around nation states or sub-national regions. This part of the handbook deal with local government in the Pacific Islands, Latin America, and New Zealand and in the Caribbean. However, the rationale behind country selection is not always clear; important countries like China, India and Nigeria, just to name a few, are absent. Unfortunately, there is no summary article highlighting similarities and differences, as well as the challenges in local government, relating to the countries studied in the book. The development of local services is the focus of Part III of the handbook, however, the definition of local services remains highly controversial and their scope varies widely between the countries. From the 1980s onwards, there was a long-term trend towards the marketisation and economisation of local politics, but since the turn of the millennium, there has been a counter-trend of the return of municipalities and third sector in the fields of local public services (Wollmann 2018). The book analyses the US and Georgia as case studies for development trends, finding that local government entrepreneurship remains an important factor in promoting economic development and strengthening capacities. I was pleased to see that Part IV, the next and most extensive part of the handbook, deals with citizen engagement, because the future of local self-government across the world depends not only on top down activities by local governing elites, but above all on the commitment of the inhabitants of cities and municipalities. Practices and challenges of citizen participation in local government are analysed in inspiring case studies of mid-sized cities in Russia and the United States. The contribution on urban governance of austerity in Europe is also of particular interest. The 2008 global financial crash and the subsequent severe budgetary pressure on municipalities in many countries was a key event in the history and development of local self-government, confronting municipalities with ‘the harsh realities of political economy’ (p. 293). Several articles analyse the causes of the declining confidence of the citizens in local authorities in some countries. In contrast, the open budget tool in Brazil is as a positive example of collaborative stakeholder engagement. Part V deals with multi-level governance. With the exception of Australia, it is all about Europe, especially the role of municipalities in the EU’s multilevel system. The authors conclude that ‘local authorities are essential for executing EU legislation, and this turn allows them to shape EU policies’ (p. 401). This part of the handbook includes the issue of local territorial reforms, which are central to local autonomy, combined with analyses of redesigning regional government and local-level Europeanisation. Subsequently, by comparing the local government systems of Southern Europe (France, Italy, Portugal and Spain), the authors underline convincingly the role of traditions, identity, legal frameworks and institutions in local government. Part VI of the book deals with the financial dimension of local self-government under the heading ‘Getting and spending’. This is indeed the ‘key source of dispute between local and central government’ (p. 467) and the crucial factor shaping true local autonomy. Meritoriously, this part also contains a chapter on the fight against corruption and unethical behaviour by public servants. Based on research linking corruption to transparency and accountability, two case studies describe how Tbilisi (Georgia) and Lviv (Ukraine) try to reduce corruption in government budgeting and procurement. Enhancing Value-For-Money audit in local government highlights another important side of local finance. An interesting comparison reveals significant differences in local government revenues in European Union member states between 2000 and 2014. Of course, even in a 530-page book, some important aspects remain underexposed. Above all, I would have liked more attention on some of the enormous future challenges facing democratic systems and with them local governments all over the world, such as digitisation (e.g. in smart cities), the integration of migrants or climate change. The international networking of municipalities should also be given greater prominence. To sum it up, The Routledge Handbook on International Local Government is indeed ‘ambitiously titled’ as the editors underline. Yet, despite my critical objections about its focus on current issues rather than future challenges, they largely fulfil this promise and their general approach has worked well. Across continents and political-administrative cultures, illustrated with many new research findings, they have created an outstanding publication focusing on the challenges and policy of local self-governmental authorities and other local stakeholders. There is a good chance that this handbook will belong in future to the social science standard works on local issues, and be included in academic political science teaching. May the publisher’s wish come true; that this book stimulates its readers to develop further research ideas. Finally, I come back to my initial question. ‘Old fashioned’ printed handbooks like these continue to make sense, even in modern digital times. Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1080/03003930.2020.1702771 SN - 0300-3930 SN - 1743-9388 VL - 46 IS - 1 SP - 163 EP - 165 PB - Routledge CY - Abingdon ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Franzke, Jochen A1 - de la Fuente, José M. Ruano T1 - New Challenges in Local Migrant Integration Policy in Europe JF - Local Integration of Migrants Policy N2 - In this introductory chapter, the editors describe the main theoretical basis of analysis of this book and the methodological approach. The core of this book consists of 14 country-specific chapters, which allow a European comparison and show the increasing variance in migration policy approaches within and between European countries. The degree of local autonomy, the level of centralisation and the traditional forms of migration policy are factors that especially influence the possibilities for local authorities to formulate their own integration policies. KW - Migration KW - Policy KW - Integration KW - Local authorities KW - Coordination KW - Civil society Y1 - 2021 SN - 978-3-030-50978-1 SN - 978-3-030-50979-8 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-50979-8_1 SN - 2523-8248 SN - 2523-8256 SP - 1 EP - 9 PB - Palgrave Macmillan CY - Cham ER - TY - BOOK A1 - Franzke, Jochen T1 - Managing sectoral transition : the case of Slovak agricultural administration N2 - Agricultural policy in the transition states of Central Eastern Europe is a very complex issue – ranging from privatisation of farm land, the establishment of agricultural markets to detailed questions of veterinary care, plant health and animal nutrition. Its main elements are the introduction of market liberalization, farm restructuring, privatisation, the reform of the sector and the creation of supporting market institutions and services.1 In this process central state agriculture administration plays a decisive role. This paper is summing up the research of the author on Slovak agricultural administration between 2002 and 2004. This work was part of a DFG-funded research project on “Genesis, Organization and Efficiency of the central-state Ministerial Administration in Central and Eastern Europe”. The project was analysing the processes, results and efficiency of administrative structures at central-state level in Estonia, Poland and Slovakia with reference to public administration in the policy fields of agriculture and telecommunications. The paper is reflecting the situation in the sector and its administration at the beginning of 2004. At first, an overview of the role of the agricultural sector in Slovak economy in the past and presence is provided (section I). Against this background, the development of the agricultural policy in the different periods since 1989 will be analysed, mainly what privatisation, accession to the EU and subsidy policy are concerned (section II). A detailed study of the developments in agricultural administration forms the next part of the paper (section III), i.e. the changes taking place in the ministry of agriculture and in the other institutions responsible for the implementation of agricultural policy. The role of interest groups in agriculture is briefly analysed (section IV). In the conclusions two different scenarios on the further development of Slovak agricultural administration will be deployed. T3 - Forschungspapiere "Probleme der Öffentlichen Verwaltung in Mittel- und Osteuropa" - 04 KW - Slovakia KW - agricultural policy KW - economy KW - administration KW - ministry of agriculture KW - interest group Y1 - 2005 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-5946 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Franzke, Jochen T1 - Integrating Immigrants: Capacities and Challenges for Local Authorities in Europe JF - Local Integration of Migrants Policy N2 - This chapter focuses on the relationship between public opinion on migration and its media coverage. Different explanatory models, including individual characteristics, cultural factors and the impact of media and politics, have been proposed to explain public attitudes towards migrants. Understanding the local context is important, as the shares of migrants living in each region and city vary considerably. Providing correct statistical information, stressing the diversity of current migration patterns in Europe and taking part in media and public discussions are ways in which to impact public attitudes at the local level. KW - Migration KW - Media KW - Public opinion KW - Eurobarometer Y1 - 2021 SN - 978-3-030-50978-1 SN - 978-3-030-50979-8 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-50979-8_17 SN - 2523-8248 SN - 2523-8256 SP - 311 EP - 333 PB - Palgrave Macmillan CY - Cham ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Franzke, Jochen T1 - Germany: From Denied Immigration to Integration of Migrants JF - Local Integration of Migrants Policy N2 - The chapter begins with a brief historical overview of Germany’s transition in the twentieth and twenty-first century from a transit and emigration country to one of immigration. The next part of this chapter looks at the challenges and problems facing German immigration policy within a multi-level federal system. Finally, the chapter gives an analysis of some of the trends in German migration policy since the refugee crisis in 2015, such as changes in the party system and in the concepts underlying migration policies to better manage, control and limit immigration to Germany. KW - Germany KW - Federalism KW - Integration KW - Coordination KW - Municipalities KW - Local autonomy Y1 - 2021 SN - 978-3-030-50978-1 SN - 978-3-030-50979-8 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-50979-8_7 SN - 2523-8248 SN - 2523-8256 SP - 107 EP - 121 PB - Palgrave Macmillan CY - Cham ER - TY - CHAP A1 - Franzke, Jochen ED - Nunes Silva, Carlos T1 - German local authorities in the COVID-19 pandemic BT - challenges, impacts and adaptations T2 - Local government and the COVID-19 pandemic N2 - This study evaluates the challenges, institutional impacts and responses of German local authorities to the COVID-19 pandemic from a political science point of view. The main research question is how they have contributed to combat the COVID-19 pandemic and to what extent the strengths and weaknesses of the German model of municipal autonomy have influenced their policy. It analyses the adaptation strategies of German local authorities and assesses the effectiveness of their actions up to now. Their implementation is then evaluated in five selected issues, e.g. adjustment organization and staff, challenges for local finances, local politics and citizen’s participation. This analysis is reflecting the scientific debate in Germany since the beginning of 2020, based on the available analyses of political science, law, economics, sociology and geography until end of March 2021. KW - Germany KW - municipalities KW - COVID-19 pandemic KW - resilience KW - coordination KW - administration KW - local and urban governance KW - local politics KW - local finance KW - local community Y1 - 2022 SN - 978-3-030-91111-9 SN - 978-3-030-91112-6 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-91112-6_6 SP - 131 EP - 154 PB - Springer CY - Cham ER - TY - CHAP A1 - Franzke, Jochen A1 - Kuhlmann, Sabine T1 - German local authorities coping with the Covid-19 pandemic BT - capacities and autonomy under stress T2 - L’ administration locale face à la crise sanitaire Y1 - 2021 SN - 9782281134964 SN - 9782281134957 SP - 257 EP - 272 PB - Éditions Le Moniteur CY - Antony ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Franzke, Jochen A1 - de la Fuente, José M. Ruano T1 - Conclusions: An Overview of Local Migrant Integration Policies in Europe JF - Local Integration of Migrants Policy N2 - As expected, the traditions of national-state migration policies continue to play a very important role, path-dependence in this policy field remains high. The distribution of competences in migration policy and the integration of migrants in the nation states continues to be very different. When implementing integration strategies at grassroots level, the respective policies should be tailored to the profile of both the local migrant community and the native population. Besides better migration management in local administration and the interaction of top-down and bottom-up efforts to integrate migrants is of importance. KW - Integration strategy KW - Local authorities KW - National state communication KW - Integration KW - Migrants Y1 - 2021 SN - 978-3-030-50978-1 SN - 978-3-030-50979-8 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-50979-8_18 SN - 2523-8248 SN - 2523-8256 SP - 335 EP - 344 PB - Palgrave Macmillan CY - Cham ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Bergström, Tomas A1 - Copus, Colin A1 - Franzke, Jochen A1 - Ruano, Jose M. A1 - Schaap, Linze A1 - Vakkala, Hanna T1 - Combining European Research on Local Governance and Local Democracy JF - Public Administration in Europe : The Contribution of EGPA N2 - The contribution summarises the scientific discussion and research activities of the EGPA Permanent Study Group 4 (PSG 4) “Local Governance and Local Democracy”, founded in 2005. The impetus for proposing this specific PSG was the growing importance of the local level within the multi-level governance system in the European Union and most of its member states. The PSG 4 acts as a European network of research activities inside and outside EGPA, producing joint publications and organising scientific debates on many problems of the development of municipalities and local authorities. Our focus was on discussing both how to improve democracy by increased participation and deliberation, and how to secure provision of services in an efficient way in developed welfare societies. This includes analysing several forms of administrative changes and reforms at the local level and research of representative, direct and cooperative democracy at local level in a cross-European comparison. Y1 - 2019 SN - 978-3-319-92855-5 SN - 978-3-319-92856-2 SP - 135 EP - 145 PB - Springer CY - Cham ER - TY - CHAP A1 - Franzke, Jochen ED - Stelmach, Andrzej ED - Barabasz, Adam ED - Trosiak, Cezary T1 - Challenges of admission and integration of Ukraine war refugees in Germany since the Russian raid in February 2022 BT - a preliminary outline T2 - Ziemie Zachodnie i Północne Y1 - 2022 SN - 978-83-66740-70-9 SP - 403 EP - 412 PB - Uniwersytet im. Adama Mickiewicza w Poznaniu CY - Poznań ER -