Regional Self-government Research Articles

Structural and Functional Consolidation Processes of Local Government Units in Norway and Croatia. A Comparative Study

The aim of the article is to synthesise the process of the introduction of the reform of the basic territorial division of the state in Norway between 2016 and 2020, creating a new structure of municipal and regional self-government with a simultaneous change in some of the tasks carried out at both levels of municipal and provincial (regional) self-government. We comparatively analyse the process of development of territorial selfgovernment in Croatia, with a particular focus on changes in the attitude of academia and politics towards the consolidation of local self-government units. The analysis is based on the assumptions and categories of neo-institutional methodology. The main thesis of the paper emphasises the importance of the process of structural and functional consolidation of local government units carried out in order to optimise the delivery of public services, enhance the well-being of local communities and exploit economies of scale. The essence and evolution of local self-government institutions in Norway and Croatia and their political and theoretical conditions will also be the subject of synthesis in the paper.

The Capacities and Sustainability of Croatian Cities in Performing Municipal Services

The system of local and regional self-governments in the EU is characterized by an extremely large number of small units. The situation in Croatia, a country with only 3.87 million inhabitants, is no different. There are 576 local and regional self-government units. The basic feature of self-government in Croatia is the equal scope of authority in performing tasks, regardless of the number of inhabitants, the area they inhabit, or their ability to pursue sustainability objectives. In this paper, we analyze the capacities of performing municipal services in 127 Croatian cities and examine whether cities differ in their ability to perform public functions. Results show that cities can be grouped into three different clusters. The validity of the results on clusters was confirmed with an ANOVA, where a significant difference was found between all three clusters. Ranking cities according to the capacity for providing municipal services shows that cities with higher capacities are clustered together, implying that cities indeed differ in their ability to perform municipal services. Further, the results indicate that 80 percent of the cities belong to the cluster that consists of cities with a very low capacity for providing public services.

From regional autonomy towards horizontal and vertical congruence coalition politics in Polish regions in the period 1998–2018

ABSTRACT In 1999 regional self-government was established in Poland and, subsequently, politics began to operate in a new multilevel setting. The question raised in this article is, how did Polish parties adapt to functioning in a multilevel system focusing on coalition politics? The analysis of documents – regional assemblies’ resolutions were used to track regional coalition formation in the period 1998–2018 – was supplemented by data gathered from the author’s interviews with regional politicians. The tendency to avoid cross-cutting coalitions was evident from the first two elections when regional politics was rather autonomous. Vertically and horizontally congruent coalitions gradually became standard when advantageous conditions occurred after 2006. The particular features of the party system leading to the avoidance of cross-cutting coalitions were the role of socio-political cleavage, that is a ‘post-communist divide’ and, later, rising polarization within a bipolar party system. Cross-cutting coalitions were occasionally acceptable but never those requiring cooperation between a majority party forming the government and the main opposition party at the central level. Recent studies indicate the rise of divergent coalitions in Europe, but in Polish regions, the contrary tendency has been observed.

Comparison of Selected Aspects of Regional Self-Government in the V4 Countries

The aim of the article is to compare the selected aspects of the regional self-government in the Visegrad Group countries regarding their defined competence frameworks and the current situation. The article is descriptive, based on the answers to a questionnaire addressed to the representatives of regional governments in the V4 countries. Its added value is to bring awareness of the differences of the public administration systems in the mentioned countries and to provide inspirations and examples of good practice based on a comparison of selected aspects.

Przyrodnicze obszary prawnie chronione w województwie mazowieckim w latach 1999–2022

The article discusses the changes in the scope of natural legally protected areas, that occured after the administrative reform in 1999. It indicates the tasks carried out by the Self-Government of the Mazowieckie Voivodeship in the field of regional policy and spatial management in accordance with the principle of sustainable development. The Mazowieckie Voivodeship – created under the territorial division reform – covered a system of protected areas that included the Kampinos National Park, 164 nature reserves, 9 landscape parks and 29 protected landscape areas. In nearly 25 years, 26 nature reserves and one protected landscape area were created. The boundaries of the existing forms of nature protection have also been modified. With Poland's accession to the European Union, the most significant changes concerning legally protected areas have taken place. The implementation of EU law into Polish law resulted, inter alia, in the introduction of a new form of nature protection – Natura 2000 sites, complementing the existing system of legally protected areas. By March 2023, 80 areas of the Natura 2000 network had been designated and approved in the Mazowieckie Voivodeship. The article discusses how the position and competences of the regional self-government in the field of nature protection have evolved as a result of changes in the law. The voivodeship self-government took over competences in the field of landscape parks and protected landscape areas. As a result of the acquired rights, the Mazovian Voivodeship Sejmik, inter alia, established the Mazovian Landscape Parks complex and protection plans for landscape parks. The boundaries of the protected landscape areas have been specified. Spatial databases are also maintained in the field of protected areas. Key words: Mazowieckie Voivodeship, nature conservation, legally protected areas, landscape parks, protected landscape areas, green belt

In-Service Training of Local Servants in Croatian Local Self-Government: between old Habits and new Ideas

The purpose of this paper is to research methods of in-service training of local servants in Croatian local self-government. The research conducted in the paper aims to contribute to scientific literature given that this area is relatively poorly researched and to determine to what extent the in-service training model is in accordance with the strategic model of human potentials development. To determine this, a legal analysis, an assessment of available documents on training programs and reports on local budgets in Croatian cities is being carried out. To examine more deeply the trends in the training of local servants and to answer the paper research question, a questionnaire was sent to Croatian cities. It is concluded that the importance of local servants training, which the scientific and professional literature strongly emphasizes, has not yet been recognized in Croatia as the legal framework does not emphasize the importance of training nor encourage its modernization, while at the same time very little funds for training are allocated from local budgets. The analysis of the questionnaire shows that the new trends in the training of local servants are very poorly represented and that ultimately the traditional (administrative) model of human potentials management still prevails in Croatian local and regional self-government.

Financial autonomy of local self-government in Croatia

The paper examines the notion and determinants of financial autonomy of local self-government in Croatia. The right to local and regional self-government as well as the competencies of local government units have been granted by the Constitution. Accordingly, the local government units are entitled to their own revenue, which they freely dispose of in performing their activities. However, financial autonomy is not clearly stated or defined, either at the constitutional level or at the statutory level. The primary source of local units’ revenues are taxes, followed by aid, ‘own source’, and earmarked revenues. The special emphasis of the paper is on ‘local’ taxes and the role of local government units in the formal aspects of financial autonomy, i.e. designing the local taxes’ notions and features. The paper also contains research on other local government units’ revenues, their legislative basis and normative design, and their role in local financial autonomy. Following the setting of the normative framework, the paper goes on to investigate the substantive aspect of fiscal autonomy, i.e. the fiscal role of local government taxes and other local revenue. The conclusions of the paper sum up the findings of the research and provide recommendations with the aim of making the system more sustainable in designing and achieving the financial autonomy of local government units in Croatia.

THE INFLUENCE OF INTANGIBLE MOTIVATION STRATEGIES ON THE SUCCESS OF BUSINESS IN THE ORGANIZATION

Employee motivation is the basis of interest in modern human resources management. By building a quality motivational system, the organization is helped to increase its competitive ability, as well as organizational value. Previous motivational techniques, strategies and systems have become insufficient and inflexible to meet the criteria of today’s employees. Therefore, it is necessary to introduce new motivational techniques and systems in order to achieve high motivation, employee satisfaction and successful business operations of the organization. Many organizations have realized that in addition to material compensations, employees today expect non-material compensations as well. With them, the organization achieves the satisfaction of the “higher order” needs of its employees (the need to confirm expertise, ability and a job well done, the need for personal and professional development, the need for self-esteem, the need to achieve a certain status, and other needs related to the employee’s position). Therefore, the research goal of this paper is based on finding a solution related to the problem of how and in what way to help management motivate employees with intangible motivation strategies. In the scientific research for the purposes of this paper, scientific research methods will be used, in order to ensure the most reliable, high-quality and concrete knowledge and conclusions about the proposed topic. Various logical and technical methods will be used for the analysis of individual elements and the mutual influence of individual elements, from descriptive, analytical-synthetic, inductive-deductive and compilation methods to statistical and mathematical methods, the use of which will depend on the goals set in the work itself. The research will use: the survey method, methods of systematic analysis, descriptive, and some of the methods that, with certain adjustments, will also be applied in the final considerations. The survey showed that the majority of respondents believe that special stimulation programs should be introduced in their organization. Most respondents also answered that training and career development are more important to them than salary and other material rewards. However, it depends on the positional status of the respondent. According to middle, higher level and top managers, employee participation in decision making and problem solving is very often more important than salaries and other material rewards. For middle- and higher-level respondents, positional status is more important than salary and other material rewards, while for half of the lower-level respondents, it is not important at all. In addition, for the majority of respondents, it is important to introduce more diverse tasks and skills, responsibility and autonomy into the work, which achieve a greater effect than salaries and other material rewards. And finally, respect and correct attitude of superiors towards employees is very important to all respondents, regardless of their position status. Therefore, the obtained research results moderately confirm the theoretical assumptions. Therefore, the hypothesis: Intangible strategies for motivating employees in the civil service and local and regional self-government are more important than salaries and other material rewards, was accepted because the respondents mostly gave answers in the upper measurement scale.

Г.Н. Потанин и В.И. Вернадский: опыт научного взаимодействия

For the first time in the research literature, the paper highlights the cooperation of the outstanding Russian investigators G.N. Potanin (1835-1920) and V.I. Vernadsky (1863-1945). The basis of interaction between these scientists was determined by the fact that both of them were students of Natural Department of the Faculty of Physics and Mathematics of Imperial St. Petersburg University. They carried the knowledge and interest in research gained at the university throughout their lives. Based on authentic sources, the authors revealed the role of A.A. Inostrantsev (1843-1919) as the organizer and ruler of the geological cabinet (museum) at St. Petersburg University, where G.N. Potanin acquired the necessary knowledge for his scientific expeditions to Central Asia in 1874. Under the influence of Dr. Inostrantsev, Potanin realized the importance of museums in geology and other branches. Besides, he supported V.V. Dokuchaev (1846-1903) in conducting soil science research in Russia. The paper emphasizes the participation of the university student Vladimir Vernadsky in Prof. Dokuchaev’s expeditions and in the preparation of a soil exposition at the World Exhibition in Paris in 1889. Following in the footsteps of his teachers and mentors, V.I. Vernadsky joined the museum science, became the curator of the Mineralogical Museum in Alma Mater, and then, some years later, in the Imperial Moscow University. Immediate communication between V.I. Vernadsky and G.N. Potanin occurred in the 1890s - 1900s, when they participated in discussions on ideological and political reorganization of Russia, pondered on the problems of regional self-government in the country. As a brief conclusion from this publication, the authors postulate free thought and scientific creativity, which related to Vernadsky and Potanin, as relevant ideas of our days.

Project Management Methodology in Regional Self-Government Units

Project implementation is one of the key activities in the process of ensuring development. In public institutions, the challenges in project management are particularly evident. Organizational inflexibility and an inability to adequately evaluate work are particularly emphasized, often creating problems during project implementation. These challenges become even greater if the financing of the project is planned with EU grants or other financial instruments that require great precision and thus exceptional project management skills. This document will present an effective project management model, as well as programs and portfolios in regional self-government units. A methodology has been developed to encourage the transformation of public systems from rigidly functional to project systems. The methodology was tested in Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, Republic of Croatia. An analysis of the quality of implementation of twenty projects has been carried out: an analysis of the final results of ten projects in which the methodology has been applied and of ten projects in which the methodology has not been applied. After conducting empirical research and analysis, the quality of the proposed model was proven at all levels of governance within the public sector. By applying this methodology, significant advances can be made in the quality of realized projects while ensuring the realistic dynamics of this realization and rational financial costs.

Međuopštinska saradnja u Srbiji - mogućnosti i praktični dometi

European experiences indicate numerous forms of inter-municipal cooperation, ranging from simpler forms aimed at more efficient and rational management (such as joint local public enterprises or shared administrations) to integrative forms where inter-municipal unions are formed, possessing legal subjectivity and their own governance structure (union assembly, president, budget, etc.). The main purpose of such cooperation models is the collective decision-making on public policies and jointly management of territorial development encompassing multiple municipalities. This can serve as an alternative to formal regionalization and regional self-governance, particularly in cases where the regional level of governance is underdeveloped. These experiences can be valuable for Serbia, considering that formal decentralization has not been embraced as an option by the authorities thus far, despite the need for regional governance, especially in the context of European integration, balanced regional development, and further democratization. The legislator in Serbia has not yet anticipated this kind of complex or integrative inter-municipal cooperation. However, in recent years, there has been a promotion of the idea of inter-municipal cooperation (in simpler forms), which is reflected in the current Law on Local Self-Government, as well as in the initial financial incentives. The paper initially presents the challenges of modern governance and reform directions, as well as the significance and practical scope of inter-municipal cooperation in European countries. Subsequently, the formal-legal possibilities for municipalities in Serbia to cooperate are examined, followed by practical implications and possibilities (based on European practices) that can be developed in the future.

Principles of regional self-government according to Council of Europe reference framework for regional democracy

The purpose of the article is to determine the general principles of regional self-government in accordance with the Framework recommendations of the Council of Europe on regional democracy. Ingenerak, this paper is intended to the content of Council of Europe Reference Framework for Regional Democracy, which in general form contains European standards of regional self-government, is examined. For a more complete presentation of the Reference Framework, the regulative acts of the Council of Europe relating to regional self-government were studied. The Reference Framework is presented as a means of transcending the scope of the European Charter of Local Self-Government in order to help governments strike the best possible balance in the apportionment of powers and responsibilities among different tiers of government. The Reference Framework is also analyzed on the basis of the principle of subsidiarity, the principle of social and territorial cohesion and the need for solidarity. The nature and principles of regional democracy are revealed. The characteristics of local and regional authorities which reflect the key principles of democracy and public participation in the management of living environments are examined. It is concluded that the essence of the principles of democracy constitute the combination of all principles and «rules for living» within a state. A comparison of the European standards of regional self-government with the regulatory practice of self-government functioning at the level of the regions of Ukraine has been carried out. The author’s vision on the introduction of regional self-government in Ukraine is presented.

ДЕФІЦИТ ДЕМОКРАТІЇ В ЄВРОПЕЙСЬКОМУ СОЮЗІ: ДО ПОНЯТТЯ ТА РОЗУМІННЯ ФЕНОМЕНОЛОГІЇ

The article is devoted to the scientific and theoretical substantiation of the problem of democracy deficit in the European Union in the context of defining its concept and meaningful understanding of phenomenology. In domestic jurisprudence, this topic is practically not studied. The authors attribute the emergence of this issue to two factors: first, that against the background of a significant strengthening of the general trend towards deepening European integration, the content of which is the transformation of political systems of member states due to the desire to create a "stronger union" between peoples and the related phenomenon of supranationalism, there are relevant phenomena not so much destructive as improper functional in nature, which can be characterized for the EU as a "trap of democracy deficit"; secondly, the fact that a number of issues addressed by the EU, in turn, do not find a response from the citizens of this union - they are relevant and important only for EU member states, but not for the citizens of these states. Thus, it can be stated that the phenomenology of the "deficit of democracy" arises as a consequence of the apathy of EU citizens to the most important institutional and teleological issues of the association and the actual information crisis in the activities of its representative structures. Based on a systematic analysis of this phenomenology, it is concluded that the following features of this phenomenology can be distinguished: a) "democracy deficit" is a phenomenon that is not only inherent but also ordinary for modern democratic regimes (domestic level) or international organizations (international -subregional level) (subjective criterion); b) its characteristic feature is: insufficient level of democratic legitimacy (democratic recognition, recognition by the general population) of their institutions (functionallegitimate criterion); certain inconsistency of activities, mechanisms and procedures within such institutions with modern democratic standards (administrative-normative and procedural criteria). According to the author, the set of these criteria must be supplemented by a psycho-psychological criterion, which characterizes a number of features: a) the formation of individual, group and collective consciousness of citizens of EU member states to understand and perceive the values of association, order the day of its activity, the functioning of its institutional structure on a democratic basis - through personal, group and collective participation in the implementation of these tasks; b) the existence of its own, group, collective system of interests in relation to the EU and its activities and the appropriate positioning on their implementation through the appropriate individual, group and collective involvement in their solution; c) formation of the corresponding European legal consciousness on the basis of perception of European values, involvement in processes of their realization through a prism of activity of institutional structure of integration association. It is concluded that the phenomenon of "democracy deficit" is not so much an indicator of lack and neglect of democratic principles within the EU, as a sign of lack or imperfection of democratic procedures in political decision-making institutions of the integration association in the context of participation of citizens of its member states. developing and making such decisions. It is noted that the active doctrinal search for representatives of the science of European law and EU law led to the conclusion that overcoming the phenomenology of the "deficit of democracy" is impossible without developing and optimizing the interaction of federalism and democracy within the integration association. the whole "European integration project". Emphasis is placed on overcoming the phenomenology of the "democracy deficit" by objectifying and intensifying the system of communicative interaction of residents of territorial communities of EU member states in the context of developing forms of direct democracy, including new forms of democratic human participation in discussions and decision-making. local, regional selfgovernment, as well as at the national and supranational levels.

Transnationalism as a Key Trend of Regional Self-government in the Basque Country

The paper is dedicated to the issues of transnationalism and development of nationalism in Basque self-government. In 2021, the Basque Country resumed the debate on updating the Statute of Guernica (the Statute of Autonomy of the Basque Country, 1979). These debates are backed by the Parliament of the Basque Country. Some key points of this discussion and current Basque regional initiatives in the European Union attract attention and may indicate the development of nationalism in the context of transnational trends and the forming of new regional identity. Methodology of the article is based on the transnationalism theory and the concept of coexistence of postnational and national as simultaneous or competing forms. Transnationalism is not a brand-new idea to Basques: some traces of transnational identity may be found in previous history. In most cases one talks about Basque nationalism (not transnationalism) referring to the period of ETA terrorist group activity which lasted till the beginning of 2010th. Since the end of the terrorist era the need for new terms and definitions for Basques nationalist movement is recognized. Despite the current high level of opponents of independence, the society is still not satisfied with the level of self-government. As a result, the problem of nationalism is greatly modified in Basque society: this is no longer a demand for the creation of an independent state, but a request for a new level of relations between the Basque Country and Spain, the Basque Country and European Union, the Basque Country and other regions; this is the demand for forming and recognition of new European regional identity. The study provides the evidence for defining this new stage in Basque self-determination movement as a nationalist and transnationalist one at the same time. In terms of this definition the concept of “Europe of the regions” is becoming relevant again and the whole situation may provide the basis for nationalist development in other European regions with similar issues.

Transnationalism as a Key Trend of Regional Self-government in the Basque Country

The paper is dedicated to the issues of transnationalism and development of nationalism in Basque self-government. In 2021, the Basque Country resumed the debate on updating the Statute of Guernica (the Statute of Autonomy of the Basque Country, 1979). These debates are backed by the Parliament of the Basque Country. Some key points of this discussion and current Basque regional initiatives in the European Union attract attention and may indicate the development of nationalism in the context of transnational trends and the forming of new regional identity. Methodology of the article is based on the transnationalism theory and the concept of coexistence of postnational and national as simultaneous or competing forms. Transnationalism is not a brand-new idea to Basques: some traces of transnational identity may be found in previous history. In most cases one talks about Basque nationalism (not transnationalism) referring to the period of ETA terrorist group activity which lasted till the beginning of 2010th. Since the end of the terrorist era the need for new terms and definitions for Basques nationalist movement is recognized. Despite the current high level of opponents of independence, the society is still not satisfied with the level of self-government. As a result, the problem of nationalism is greatly modified in Basque society: this is no longer a demand for the creation of an independent state, but a request for a new level of relations between the Basque Country and Spain, the Basque Country and European Union, the Basque Country and other regions; this is the demand for forming and recognition of new European regional identity. The study provides the evidence for defining this new stage in Basque self-determination movement as a nationalist and transnationalist one at the same time. In terms of this definition the concept of “Europe of the regions” is becoming relevant again and the whole situation may provide the basis for nationalist development in other European regions with similar issues.

Subordination and Autonomy in the Reformed Churches In the Middle Colonies, 1720–1748

The creation of a Dutch empire in the seventeenth century required the establishment of Dutch Reformed congregations in its colonies, which were formally independent of ecclesiastical assemblies in the Netherlands. Such assemblies nevertheless supported the church abroad, particularly by sending ministers. The assembly that took the strongest role in New Netherland affairs was the Classis of Amsterdam. This formal independence was forgotten in the eighteenth century, as ministers on both sides of the Atlantic created a new vision of colonial subordination within and for the church in North America. However, as the Dutch Reformed church was built on the principles of collective, regional self-governance, "subordination" across long distances became an ambiguous and contested concept. Ecclesiastical conflicts in the colonies of the former New Netherland resulted. These conflicts were exacerbated by the growing role of the Dutch Reformed in the affairs of the Reformed congregations in Pennsylvania, as well as the involvement of an unexpected new voice in colonial affairs, the Classis of Schieland in Rotterdam. The result was a thick web of inter-colonial, classical, denominational, and ethnic entanglements that produced endemic conflict over church governance throughout a significant segment of the eighteenth century.

Kluczowe zagadnienia regionalnego budżetu obywatelskiego na przykładzie województwa małopolskiego

Participatory budgets are currently one of the most popular instruments of involving the society in managing local communities. As these budgets are popular and in many cases effective initiatives, many local governments in Poland use them. For several years, this mechanism has also been used by regional self-governments, which are larger structures, and it was first used by Małopolska on a large scale. In this article, the author wants to analyze the phenomenon of the regional civic budget, using the example of Małopolska, try to distinguish its characteristic features, and consider how the participatory budget fits into the tasks of the regional self-government.

Legal Grounds for Forming and Altering the Basic Territorial Division of the State

The issue of territorial division of a state has been subject of the science of administrative law for years. The aim of territorial division is to introduce certain order in human activity in a given area. This refers in particular to general territorial division, which has most significance and plays the most important role in functioning of state and society. Thus, the issue of legal regulations concerning the prerequisites for shaping this order and the conditions for making alterations to it remains topical. The author presents the issue of legal regulations regarding the premises this order and the conditions for its transformation as still topical and being rather a long-term process than a single undertaking. It stems from the tension present in the science of administrative law between assuming that the territorial division of the state should be characterised by relative stability, and the simultaneous projection of its alterations in the face of changing conditions forcing transformation in the functioning of public administration. The current model of the basic territorial division is based on the concept laid down in the Constitution of 2 April 1997, assuming that the territorial division of the state must take into account the social, economic or cultural ties, at the same time ensuring that the territorial units are capable of performing public tasks. Moreover, the formal criterion for alterations to the basic territorial system is introducing them by means of an Act. The paper also presents the modern tendency to change the perspective and gradual, however constant, move from the analysis of the territorial division of the state as an element of effectiveness of public administration to the emphasis of the significance of territorial division as the real framework of local and regional self-governance and the areas of social activity.

Is Lobbying Effictively Regulated in the Regional Self-governments in Poland? The Cases of Opolskie and Podkarpackie Regional Self-governments

The goal of the paper is to examine whether lobbying is effectively regulated in the regional self-governments in Poland. The article analyses two cases: Opolskie and Podkarpackie regional self-governments (2014-2020). For the purpose of the article, three types of material were gathered 1) A legislation regulating lobbying in Poland (the Law on Lobbying); 2) The results of the semi-structured interviews with sixty councilors from both regional chambers; 3) The websites and public social media accounts of the legislators and major lobbyists and the correspondence with heads of the regions’ organizational departments. Two scientific methods were adopted (institutionally-legal analysis and comparative method) to examine the material.
 An outcome of the research revealed that lobbying is ineffectively regulated. A law does not provide the state with instruments allowing to control the prevailing type of lobbying (“lobbying activity”). Furthermore, neither councilors, nor lobbyists adopted ethical codes of conduct that would establish clear behavioral standards. Moreover, lobbyists have equal access only to the rank-and-file councilors, whereas solely the strongest ones can contact the legislators constituting the regional government.

Reform of the territorial division and the structure of municipal self-government in the Kingdom of Norway

The aim of the article is to analyse the assumptions and results of the reform of the basic territorial division of the state carried out in Norway in 2016–2020, creating a new structure of municipal and regional self-government with a simultaneous change in some of the tasks carried out at both levels. The analysis is based on the assumptions and categories of neo-institutional methodology. The main thesis of the article is contained in the statement that the process of structural consolidation of local government units is theoretically and practically inevitable, because it is carried out in order to optimise the implementation of public services and increase the welfare of local communities. Its pragmatic and efficient execution with the participation of local communities is necessary to follow the contemporary stage of socio-economic and political development.