Local self-government in the system of modern democracy

Abstract

Local self-government has become one of the most important social institutions of modern democracy. As a universal structure of civil society, local government has multi-purpose powers that can meet a number of pressing needs of the population, such as housing, social services and education. In addition, local government, by allowing ordinary citizens to participate in political life as councillors and providing them with the opportunity to participate in decision-making, plays an important role in legitimizing the existing political regime. Modern systems of self-government are based on the traditions and values of liberal democracy and social democracy. The values that the liberal tradition particularly associates with local self-government are freedom, participation and efficiency. The social democratic tradition holds and defends values such as equality and the right to welfare. Local government in modern democracy is placed in a contradictory position. The central state both needs and fears local self-governance.