Course Objective

The course objective is to provide general knowledge about various local government systems and the local leadership change occurred due to the implementation of New Public Management (NPM) and governance practices. The local leadership will be discussed via focusing on two institutional indicators: central-local relations and politico-administrative relations within institutionally different municipalities. Among others, students will get familiar with Mouritzen & Svara?s (2002) local governmental typology in connection to Getemis & Hlepas (2006) local leadership typology both providing interesting comparative perspectives.

The practical examples will be taken from ongoing research analyzing municipalities in three distinctive local government forms: strong mayor form, council-manager form and a ?mixed? form found in Spain, Finland and Slovakia.   

Course outcome:

This course is meant to encourage the critical analysis of different governmental systems in order to confirm or seek for more appropriate leadership and managerial practices in different countries.

Modes of study

Lectures 6h

Discussions/Group works    3h

Essay                              20h

For passing the course and obtaining 2 ECTS, student has to attend 6h of provided lectures and be active (ask questions, provide solutions, critically analyse presented info) during the discussions and group works. For getting 5 ECTS, in addition to previous requirements student must write an essay about local government leadership change in selected country (other than those discussed during the lectures).

Teaching language

English

Course schedule

Wed 21st Sept. 13-16, Linna K110. - Theoretical bases for comparative local governance studies; presentation of various local government systems in respect to diversity of comparative indicators; theoretical bases for concept of local leadership.

Wed 28th Sept. 13-16 Linna K110 - Discussion about the Finnish, Spanish and Slovak local governance systems from a comparative perspective; focus on central-local relations while analyzing possibilities for applying the "good governance".

Wed 5th Oct. 13-16 Linna K110  - Discussion about the Finnish, Spanish and Slovak local governance systems from a comparative perspective; focus on intra-governmental, i.e., politico-administrative relations while identifying the actual local leaders and their performance affected by NPM practices.

Literature

 Bäck, H. (2005). The Institutional Setting of Local Political Leadership and Community Involvement. In M. Haus, H. Heinelt, & M. Stewart, Urban Governance and Democracy: Leadership and Community Involvement (pp. 65-101). New York: Routlage.

Bäck, H., Heinelt, H., & Magnier, A.  (2006). The European Mayor:Political Leaders in the Changing Context of Local Democracy. VS Verlag.

Getimis, P., & Grigoriadou, D. (2005). Changes in Urban Political Leadership. In M. Hous, H. Heinelt, & M. Stewart (Eds.), Urban Governance and Democracy (first ed., pp. 168-189). USA and Canada: Routledge.

Getimis, P., & Hlepas, N.-K. (2006). Aspects of Leadership Style. In H. Bäck, H. Heinelt, & A. Magnier (Eds.), The European Mayor. Political Leaders in the Changing Context of Local Democracy (pp. 177-200). Germany: VS Verlag fur Sozialwissenschaften.

John, P. (2001). Local Governance in Wester Europe. London: Sage Publication Inc.

Kersting, N., Caulfield, J., Nickson, R. A., Olowu, D., & Wollmann, H. (2009). Local Governance Reform in Global Perspective. Wiesbaden: VS Verlag.

Klausen, K. K., & Magnier, A. (1998). The Anonymous Leader. Odense: Odense University Press.

Mouritzen, P. E., & Svara, J. H. (2002). Leadership at the Apex: Politicians and Administrators in Western Local Governments. Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburg Press.