Local Politics: A Resource for Democracy in Western Europe: Local Autonomy, Local Integrative Capacity, and Citizens' Attitudes toward Politics

by Angelika Vetter

Overview

Local Politics: A Resource for Democracy in Western Europe examines the relationship between local institutional design and citizens' attitudes toward democracy. Translated by Angelika Vetter, this book is a unique contribution to traditional political culture research, which has focused primarily on national politics. As the last stage in the nation-state administrative apparatus, local authorities represent the synapse between the political-administrative system and the citizens. By comparing attitudes towards local and national politics in a cross-national framework, this book investigates the socialization functions of local politics including the feeling of identification or belonging, the input side of politics, and the citizens' satisfaction with local and national democracy. Following sophisticated analysis, Vetter highlights the conditions under which locally socialized political orientations may serve as a resource for democracy at higher system levels. Local Politics: A Resource for Democracy in Western Europe is a fascinating read for those interested in political science and European studies.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780739120194
Publisher:	Lexington Books
Publication date:	02/03/2007
Series:	New Directions in Culture and Governance
Pages:	244
Product dimensions:	6.27(w) x 9.28(h) x 0.99(d)

About the Author

Angelika Vetter is associate professor of political science in the Department of Social and Political Sciences at the University of Stuttgart in Germany.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Introduction
Chapter 2 Political Attitudes: Dimensions and Measurement
Chapter 3 Theoretical Considerations
Chapter 4 Attitudes towards Local and National Politics in Western Europe
Chapter 5 Local Autonomy
Chapter 6 The Integrative Capacity of Local Government Systems
Chapter 7 Explaining the Legitmization Potential of Local Politics
Chapter 8 Local Politics in Western Europe: A Resource for Democracy?