The 26th NISPAcee Annual Conference

Conference photos available

Conference photos available

In the conference participated 317 participants

Conference programme published

Almost 250 conference participants from 36 countries participated

Conference Report

The 28th NISPAcee Annual Conference cancelled

The 29th NISPAcee Annual Conference, Ljubljana, Slovenia, October 21 - October 23, 2021

The 2020 NISPAcee On-line Conference

The 30th NISPAcee Annual Conference, Bucharest, Romania, June 2 - June 4, 2022

An opportunity to learn from other researchers and other countries' experiences on certain topics.

G.A.C., Hungary, 25th Conference 2017, Kazan

Very well organised, excellent programme and fruitful discussions.

M.M.S., Slovakia, 25th Conference 2017, Kazan

The NISPAcee conference remains a very interesting conference.

M.D.V., Netherlands, 25th Conference 2017, Kazan

Thank you for the opportunity to be there, and for the work of the organisers.

D.Z., Hungary, 24th Conference 2016, Zagreb

Well organized, as always. Excellent conference topic and paper selection.

M.S., Serbia, 23rd Conference 2015, Georgia

Perfect conference. Well organised. Very informative.

M.deV., Netherlands, 22nd Conference 2014, Hungary

Excellent conference. Congratulations!

S. C., United States, 20th Conference 2012, Republic of Macedonia

Thanks for organising the pre-conference activity. I benefited significantly!

R. U., Uzbekistan, 19th Conference, Varna 2011

Each information I got, was received perfectly in time!

L. S., Latvia, 21st Conference 2013, Serbia

The Conference was very academically fruitful!

M. K., Republic of Macedonia, 20th Conference 2012, Republic of Macedonia

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 Paper/Speech Details of Conference Program  

for the  26th NISPAcee Annual Conference
  Program Overview
I. Working Group on Local Government
Author(s)  Jowanka Jakubek-Lalik 
  University of Warsaw
Warsaw  Poland
 
 
 Title  Lasting Independence or creeping Re-centralization? The Case of Polish Local Government
File   Paper files are available only for conference participants, please login first. 
Presenter  Jowanka Jakubek-Lalik
Abstract  
  		 Local government reform has been acknowledged to be one of the biggest successes of political transformation in Poland. Municipalities gained strong powers and were responsible for many public services of crucial importance to local communites. Their autonomy was guarded by legal, institutional and financial guarantees and strong local leaders. Carefully designed institutional framework of local and regional government seemed to be permanent and durable.
Nevertheless, the consecutive central governments were finding common ground in their instrumental approach to local authorities’ independence. It was convenient for the state to decentralise problems and challenges, while keeping control over finance and other resources.
The trend towards re-centralisation has accelerated rapidly since 2015, and local government is being gradually deprived of successive competences, while the state applies stricter supervisory powers. The central government puts to the test legal and institutional guarantees of local authorities’ independence, and while not oficially planning to abolish its autonomy, slowly tries to impose its ways of managing public affairs and expects obiedience in executing public policies.
The answer to the re-centralising trend is not just regaining local autonomy and trying to be regarded as a partner by the central government. Municipalities need a fresh perspective and addressing new challenges, like open and inclusive decision-making, new technologies and responsive leadership. By rebuilding local communities, the power should be transferred back to the people, who are the ultimate evaluating authority.