Abstract
Decentralization was crucial pillar of larger political and economic transformation in the post-socialistic context in Poland and other countries of Central and Eastern Europe. Last decades of change within political and economic system in Poland provide numerous examples of various dimensions of reforms. This chapter refers to decentralization seen as process in reaction against the failure of the centralized state. The scope of two decentralizations waves is described followed by analysis of current subnational government system including public finance and development of civil service. This chapter discusses also main challenges within the local communities like citizens’ participation and low level of trust in Polish society.
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Notes
- 1.
Other related notions like deconcentration, devolution and delegation are sometimes substituting decentralization. Deconcentration—originally French origin, means the redistribution of decision-making authority, financial and management responsibilities among different levels of the central government. Devolution, in turn originally an English concept, is the transfer of authority for decision making, finance and management to quasi-autonomous units of local government with corporate status. Finally through delegation of central government transfer responsibility for decision making and administration of public functions to semi-autonomous organizations not wholly controlled by central government, but ultimately accountable to it.
- 2.
The title of the executive authority within municipalities depends on the character of municipality: wójt in rural municipalities, burmistrz in smaller towns, and prezydent miasta in bigger towns, which are, in principle, towns-cities having more than 100,000 inhabitants.
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Sakowicz, M. (2017). Rebirth of Local Government in Poland: 25 Years of Decentralization Reform. In: Ruano, J., Profiroiu, M. (eds) The Palgrave Handbook of Decentralisation in Europe. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-32437-1_13
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