The main goal of the course is to familiarize students with the modern theoretical and empirical approach on local and regional governance. It also provides them with the development of local institutions in Europe through a comparative approach. Finally it aims to the understanding and analysis of the function of local and regional administration units in Greece and European Countries. The main theories of multi-level governance models will be analyzed. Also, comparative methodology and tools, as well as the basic typology and classifications of the local-governance systems in European Countries will be presented. Finally, the main aspects of everyday functions of the institutions will be analyzed.

This course targets to acquiring students with the necessary knowledge and skills to understand and adjust the requirements of decision making process in multilevel governance systems with emphasis on the role of local and regional authorities. Furthermore the course aims to provide the students with the necessary skills to analyze and combine qualitative and quantitative data related to public policies for local and regional level and design and manage respecting projects. Moreover, the multidisciplinary approach of the course from the perspective of several disciplines (law, political and social sciences) and the comparative methodology approach will provide the students the necessary skills and tools to work in a complex as well as international environment. After the successful completion of this course, students will have important knowledge of local governance and regional administration systems in European countries, as well as their grouping based on common characteristics. They will also have knowledge of the historical evolution and the modern function of the system of governance and regional administration in Greece. The students will be in the position to analyze structural and functional characteristics of specifics municipalities and regional authorities as well as to propose measures to improve their administrative, economical, and political performance. In addition the students will be able to support the decision-making procedures and to consult the political personnel in planning and policy-making as well as to design and implement deliberative forms of citizens’ involvement.

The evaluation is based on weekly writing essays (20%) presented to the class, final exams (50%) and other activities (invited lectures from practitioners and politicians, on site auditing) (30%).

Additional bibliography for study
Ν.-Κ. Χλέπας, Ο Δήμαρχος, Παπαζήσης, Αθήνα 2005,
Haus, M., Ζ. Heinelt, Μ. Stewartt, Urban Governance and Democracy. Leadership and community involvement, Routledge 2004.
John, P., Local Governance in Western Europe, Sage, London 2001.
Kersting, Norb., Ang. Vetter, (ed.), Reforming Local Government in Europe. Closing the Gap between Democracy and Efficiency, Leske+Budrich, Opladen 2003.
Loughlin J./ Hendriks, F./ Lidstrom, A. (eds.), The Oxford Handbook of Local and Regional Democracy in Europe, OUP, Oxford 2011
Mouritzen, P.E./ Svara, J., Leadership at the Apex. Politicians and Administrators in Western Local Governments, University of Pittsburg Press, Pittsburg 2002.

Συναφή επιστημονικά περιοδικά:
Local Government Studies
International Review of Administrative Sciences
Public Administration
Επιθεώρηση Διοικητικής Επιστήμης