Civic Engagement and Governance in the Urban-Rural Fringe: Evidence from Ireland

2009 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-77 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marie Mahon ◽  
Frances Fahy ◽  
Micheál Ó Cinnéide ◽  
Brenda Gallagher
Keyword(s):  
Civic Engagement ◽  
Sense Of Belonging ◽  
Local Governance ◽  
Economic Change ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Power Relationships ◽  
Local Democracy ◽  
Local Organizations ◽  
Urban Rural ◽  
Governance Processes

The urban-rural fringe in Ireland harbors diverse and often competing visions of place that unfold against a backdrop of rapid physical and socio-economic change. The desire to develop and articulate a shared sense of belonging rooted in place might be reasonably expected to lead to community-level expression through diverse local organizations. These in turn become embedded in wider institutionalized systems of governance. The importance of place vision, and the extent of civic engagement to create and protect such a vision, is the focus of this article. The ongoing and predominantly developer-led transformation of fringe locations has coincided with a shift from government to governance (particularly at local level) and associated changes in power relationships among various stakeholders. This article investigates the extent to which residents of fringe locations perceive themselves as part of local governance processes and explores the implications of such perceptions for citizenship and local democracy.

scholarly journals Local Government Response to COVID-19: Revitalizing Local Democracy in Bangladesh

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 701-712
Author(s):  
A.N.M. Zakir Hossain
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Public Engagement ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Local Governance ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
Policy Formulation ◽  
Survey Method ◽  
Local Democracy ◽  
Google Docs

The study aims to identify the role of local government and its transformation in response to the COVID-19. It also shows how local governments extended the scope of accountability and transparency to strengthen democracy. The study followed the social survey method and collected data online through Google Docs form. The data were analyzed through descriptive statistics to generate expected results and test the hypothesis by the Spearman correlation coefficient. The study found local governments were positive during COVID-19 to provide services and offered more public engagement in policy formulation, thus more democratic. The health sector has shown the highest priority, with food and environmental services. Inefficient management capacity of leaders and apathy in public engagement hamper resource mobilization at the local level. During COVID-19, ICT intervention and innovation for digital transformation in local governance increased accountability and transparency through easy and effective participation of mass people to strengthen local democracy to respond effectively against COVID-19.

scholarly journals Democratic decentralisation, citizen engagement and service delivery in South Africa: A critique of legislative and policy considerations

2018 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 78-95
Author(s):  
Purshottama S Reddy ◽  
Jayanathan Govender
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Local Government ◽  
Civic Engagement ◽  
Service Delivery ◽  
Local Governance ◽  
Local Development ◽  
Developmental State ◽  
Second Phase ◽  
Local Democracy ◽  
Governance System

Negotiations to restructure and transform local government in South Africa commenced in 1993. Key roleplayers and stakeholders in local government were instrumental in adopting a negotiated local government model comprising three distinct phases during the constitutional development process. The Local Government Transition Act, 1993 (Act 209 of 1993) facilitated the process for the introduction of transitional local and metropolitan councils which constituted the first phase. Local government elections were held for the first time in November 1995 and May/June 1996 in seven provinces (and thereafter Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal) constituted the second phase. Three fundamental legislative enactments, i.e. Local Government: Municipal Demarcation Act, 1998 (Act 27 of 1998); Local Government Municipal Structures Act, 1998 (Act 117 of 1998) and the Local Government: Municipal Systems Act, 2000 (Act 32 of 2000), were critical to the final phase. Elections held in December 2000 marked the end of the transition period resulting in a reduction of municipalities from 843 to 283. There were two successful local government elections held thereafter on 26 March 2006 and more recently on 18 May 2011. Regular elections and the plethora of legislation introduced to consolidate the new dispensation have resulted in local democracy and decentralization being deeply rooted in the local governance system. The latter is an integral component of the local governance policy framework as the country has a diverse population of almost 50 million people. It is believed that a democratic and decentralised governance system will promote local development, address poverty reduction, facilitate civic engagement and ensure national integration. Local democracy, introduced seventeen years ago following the ushering in of the developmental state in 1994, has since been tried and tested. Despite ‘world class’ legislation and a ‘best practice’ local governance system, which has as its basis people centred development, engagement and decentralisation, several governance challenges has emerged. This includes inter alia, unfunded mandates; rampant corruption and nepotism;violent service delivery protests; capacity constraints; crime, lack of communication, transparency and accountability; limited civic engagement and a significant number of municipalities that are not financially viable. These issues will have to be addressed if Chapter 7 of the Constitution has to become more meaningful to the majority of the populace in terms of discharging its developmental mandate.

scholarly journals Decentralization of Authorities in Ukraine; As an Efficient Instrument for Strengthening Local Democracy in The Modern Stage Of Government

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 6786-6792
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Citizen Participation ◽  
Local Governance ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Active Form ◽  
Research Paper ◽  
Local Democracy ◽  
Public Budget ◽  
Current Crisis ◽  
Everyday Problems

The article deals with the issue of the decentralization of power in Ukraine, the unification of territorial communities, the development of a democratic local government, the establishment of local democracy, the factors that influence this process, the forms of participation of residents in solving everyday problems of the community. The purpose of the research paper is to reveal the mechanisms of decentralization of power at the local level, identify the main tendencies that appear during its implementation, ways to improve local governance and develop local democracy in the current crisis. In result, the study has established that the found in the developed democratic countries, the Institute of Local SelfGovernment – is a unique area that promotes the introduction of such signs of democracy as a community of tasks, joint responsibility, universal agreement, brotherhood, tolerance, equality. So, local democracy is necessary; it should be developed, strengthened in all directions. Has been established that the active form of citizen participation in community affairs is the implementation of the idea of the participation budget or public budget. The project had supported in virtually all regions of Ukraine and, thanks to it, people managed to solve a large number of local affairs under its responsibility, while increasing transparency and accountability of management structures and deepening decentralization processes on the ground.

Concept and components of the financial-investment maintenance of local governance

2020 ◽  
pp. 100-112
Author(s):  
Zenoviy Siryk
Keyword(s):  
Social Services ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Local Governance ◽  
Local Level ◽  
National Standards ◽  
Investment Policy ◽  
Financial Resources ◽  
Financial Investment ◽  
Balanced Development ◽  
And Function

The issues related to the management of financial resources of territorial communities, financial independence of local governments and forming of efficient financial-investment policy to secure the balanced development of local communities and territories become of utmost importance in conditions of financial decentralization and administrative-territorial reform in Ukraine. The problem issues concerning the forming of financial-investment maintenance of local governance directly impact the capacity of a territorial community that should have financial, material, and other resources in the volumes sufficient to completely accomplish the tasks and function of local governments and provide social services to the population at the level stipulated by national standards. The forming of financial-investment maintenance of local governance is revealed to be directly influencing the capacity of a territorial community that should have financial, material, and other resources in the volumes sufficient to completely accomplish the tasks and function of local governments and provide social services to the population. The expansion of local governments’ competences and granting them greater independence are substantiated to be requiring more responsibility in the financial-investment policy implementation on the local level, forming of conditions to perform the economic activity, and develop businesses by all economic entities, and promoting favorable investment climate in the region. Based on the analysis of approaches to the definition of the nature of “financial maintenance” and “investment maintenance” in the context of the peculiarities of local governments’ activity, the paper suggests understanding the “financial-investment maintenance of local governance” as a set of opportunities and activities on distribution and use of financial resources and territories’ resources for the creation of conditions necessary for the efficient functioning of local governments and realization of their competences.

Women’s Struggle for a Voice in Local Governance: Challenges for Veiled Women in Haryana, India

2021 ◽  
pp. 097152152110305
Author(s):  
Saroj Rani
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
Political Participation ◽  
Qualitative Methods ◽  
Local Governance ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Depth Interview ◽  
Governance Challenges ◽  
Experiences Of Women

This study explores the experiences of women as voters and political representatives at the local level. It includes women’s stories which capture the challenges they faced, their resistance and aspiration for change. The study also looks at men’s perception of women’s political participation. The study uses a feminist perspective with qualitative methods. Tools such as in-depth interview, focus group discussions and observations were used to gather data and information.

scholarly journals Tensions in Urban Transitions. Conceptualizing Conflicts in Local Climate Policy Arrangements

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 78
Author(s):  
Winfried Osthorst
Keyword(s):  
Climate Policy ◽  
Policy Change ◽  
Local Governance ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Town Planning ◽  
Ecological Modernization ◽  
Political Debate ◽  
Local Climate ◽  
Political Processes ◽  
Policy Arrangements

Academic and political debate places great expectations on cities’ potential for furthering decentralized, bottom-up climate policies. Local policy research acknowledges the role of local agency to develop and implement sustainability, but also acknowledges internal conflicts. This partly reflects tensions between different functions of the local level, and different governance models related to them. In addition, local dependency on higher level competencies, resources, and overarching strategies is discussed. This article proposes a focus on political processes and power relationships between levels of governance, and among relevant domains within cities, to understand the dynamics of policy change towards sustainability. Researching these dynamics within local climate policy arrangements (LCPAs) is proposed as an approach to understanding the complexities of local constellations and contradictions within them. It makes the distinction between “weak” and “strong” ecological modernization, and relates it to two basic rationales for local governance. The resulting typology denotes constellations characterizing policy change ambitions towards local climate policy in crucial domains, including economic development, energy infrastructures, climate change management, town planning and housing, and transportation. This article argues that this approach overcomes the limitations of the predominating conceptualizations of urban carbon control strategies as consistent, and recognises the multi-level dimension of such internal urban processes.

scholarly journals Importation of Good Governance at Local Self-government Body in Bangladesh

2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 46
Author(s):  
Fakhrul Islam ◽  
Md. Amdadul Haque
Keyword(s):  
Good Governance ◽  
Local Governance ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Survey Method ◽  
Role Of Government ◽  
Public Issues ◽  
The People ◽  
New Space ◽  
Government Body ◽  
Data Collection Technique

The principle of good governance is difficult and controversial. Governance opens new space which provides a concept that allows us to discuss the role of government in coping with public issues and the contribution that other players may make. It opens one’s mind to the possibility that groups in society other than government. Good governance is responsive to the present and future needs of society. Strengthening local governance can be ensured through the importation of the component of good governance at the local level. This paper intent to  examine spaces where principles of good governance are required to apply to ensure better service delivery system at Union Parishad. This paper has been followed by social survey method. The data collection technique of this study has covered quantitative technique. Union Parishad as a local self government body ensuring community participations, people can approach and communicates clearly to their representatives and regularly issuing its progress report to the people for their transparency. Besides, dealing with convicted corruption was found most effective in manner.

scholarly journals Analysis of the Influence of Local Politics on Implementation SDGs 4 Policy for Quality Education

2021 ◽  
pp. 196-204
Author(s):  
Wilda Rasaili ◽  
Dafik Dafik ◽  
Rachmat Hidayat ◽  
Hadi Prayitno
Keyword(s):  
Policy Implementation ◽  
Local Politics ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Quality Education ◽  
Local Democracy ◽  
Public Meetings ◽  
A Value ◽  
Political Interests

SDGs-4, the quality education is one of the factors in achieving the goals of the SDGs. The problem is that the SDGs look ambitious in integrating local level policies that are responsive to political interests. The research used a mixed method of exploration, searching for interview data and questionnaires. The results showed that the implementation of the SDGs was strongly influenced by local democracy. The implementation of the promotion of SDGs requires strengthening local politics and democracy, including; the quality of the Pilkada, the role of the community, political parties, media control, and public meetings. The influence of local democracy on policy implementation is 51.5%. Policy implementation has a positive effect on the implementation of the SDGs with a value of 0.187. The influence of local democracy and policy implementation on the promotion of SDGs-4 is 64.2% and the remaining 35.8% is influenced by other factors.

scholarly journals Local Government: Constitutional Vision and Present Practice

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 109-128
Author(s):  
Krishna Man Pradhan
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Power Allocation ◽  
Local Governance ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Federal Level ◽  
Allocation System ◽  
Secondary Sources ◽  
Opposition Party ◽  
Present Practice

Is it local government or local level unit of provincial and federal level governments? The constitution is still unclear. The constitution has not any provision of opposition party but it has executive, legislative and judiciary power allocation system of the organs of a government. To explore the vision and practice of local governance in Nepal, the study has been conducted. The methodology consists of analyzing primary and secondary sources. Primary data have been collected through field discussions with the stakeholders. Regarding the local governance various recommendations are presented in conclusion.

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