Decentralization and Public Participation Discontent in Europe and Canada

Abstract

Advanced democracies are facing increased pressures for public input into political decision-making, which can take a variety of forms, including referendums, pressures to respond to public opinion surveys, demands for decentralization or devolution of power to local authorities, and in some cases secessionist movements. Using a comparative case methodologies papers on this panel examine various factors that drive such pressures in both the Canadian and European contexts. Topics include dynamics affecting higher or lower levels of local autonomy or secessionist demands, the impact of decentralization on public perceptions of policy effectiveness and service delivery, and factors affecting the ability of governments to affect outcomes of referendum campaigns.

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Direct Democracy and the Financial Crisis	View Paper Details
Local Autonomy in Federal Systems: Comparison Between Switzerland and Canada	View Paper Details
Territorial "Disintegration": Concept Building	View Paper Details