Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

The Future of Local Democracy : A Somewhat Dystopian View

Bergström, Tomas LU (2021) p.17-30
Abstract

Tomas Bergström discusses, with examples mainly from Sweden, the future of party-based local democracy. Could local democratic systems change as conditions change and remain vigorous? Long-term trends present a rather dystopian picture that seems to result in reduced discretion and depoliticisation. Changes that has taken place like globalisation, marketisation, the impact of social media and new roles for courts challenge local politicians’ chances of governing local matters. Decisions are taken at other levels, by other actors than elected politicians or in complex networks involving a number of partners and stakeholders. Historically local governments have been able to adjust to new conditions. Whether this is the case also now... (More)

Tomas Bergström discusses, with examples mainly from Sweden, the future of party-based local democracy. Could local democratic systems change as conditions change and remain vigorous? Long-term trends present a rather dystopian picture that seems to result in reduced discretion and depoliticisation. Changes that has taken place like globalisation, marketisation, the impact of social media and new roles for courts challenge local politicians’ chances of governing local matters. Decisions are taken at other levels, by other actors than elected politicians or in complex networks involving a number of partners and stakeholders. Historically local governments have been able to adjust to new conditions. Whether this is the case also now remains to be seen.

(Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
organization
publishing date
type
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Depoliticisation, Dystopia, Local democracy, Reduced discretion
host publication
Palgrave Studies in Sub-National Governance
pages
14 pages
publisher
Palgrave Macmillan
external identifiers
  • scopus:85166616945
DOI
10.1007/978-3-030-56059-1_2
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
302282a9-39d6-45e6-9cc4-20c9ff1d1f25
date added to LUP
2023-11-22 14:48:27
date last changed
2023-11-22 14:49:30
@inbook{302282a9-39d6-45e6-9cc4-20c9ff1d1f25,
  abstract     = {{<p>Tomas Bergström discusses, with examples mainly from Sweden, the future of party-based local democracy. Could local democratic systems change as conditions change and remain vigorous? Long-term trends present a rather dystopian picture that seems to result in reduced discretion and depoliticisation. Changes that has taken place like globalisation, marketisation, the impact of social media and new roles for courts challenge local politicians’ chances of governing local matters. Decisions are taken at other levels, by other actors than elected politicians or in complex networks involving a number of partners and stakeholders. Historically local governments have been able to adjust to new conditions. Whether this is the case also now remains to be seen.</p>}},
  author       = {{Bergström, Tomas}},
  booktitle    = {{Palgrave Studies in Sub-National Governance}},
  keywords     = {{Depoliticisation; Dystopia; Local democracy; Reduced discretion}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{17--30}},
  publisher    = {{Palgrave Macmillan}},
  title        = {{The Future of Local Democracy : A Somewhat Dystopian View}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-56059-1_2}},
  doi          = {{10.1007/978-3-030-56059-1_2}},
  year         = {{2021}},
}