Conducted in terms: 2023/24L, 2024/25L, 2025/26L

ISCED code: 0312

ECTS credits: 3

Language: Polish

Organized by: Faculty of Political Science and Security Studies

Local Self-Government in the European Union 2751-KON-STUE

The schedule of classes includes the following elements:

1. Organizational activities

2. Basic concepts in the field of local government. European Charter of Local Self-Government.

--> Set of concepts: state, authority, public authority, administration (public/non-public), management, direction, supervision, control, constitutionalism, bureaucracy, public task, body, civil service, self-government, subsidiarity, decentralization, centralization, devolution, delegation, concentration, deconcentration, autonomy, federation, hierarchical dependence, legal personality, community, collegiality, single-personhood, ministry (ministry principle).

3. Austria; Hungary

4. Belgium; Netherlands

5. Cyprus; Malta

6. Denmark; Lithuania

7. Estonia; Latvia

8. Finland; Sweden

9. Spain; Portugal

10. Luxembourg; Slovenia

11. Germany France

12. Romania; Bulgaria

13. Slovakia; Czech Republic

14. Italy; Greece

15. United Kingdom; Ireland

Total student workload

Learning outcomes - knowledge

- Demonstrates basic knowledge of the basic categories of local government. - Demonstrates a basic understanding of the historical stages of the evolution of local government, with particular emphasis on Poland. - Demonstrates knowledge of the basic structural solutions relating to local government in European Union member states and various contemporary and historical approaches to their creation. - Demonstrates knowledge of decision-making strategies. - Demonstrates a basic understanding of the principles and entities exercising control over local government in European Union member states.

Learning outcomes - skills

- Explains the historical conditions for the evolution of local government in European Union member states. - Analyzes the role of local government in European Union member states as a political entity. - Utilizes basic conceptual solutions related to local government in European Union member states.

Learning outcomes - social competencies

- Is prepared to actively participate in solving the problems of contemporary local government in European Union member states. - Recognizes and identifies moral problems and ethical dilemmas related to local government in European Union member states.

Teaching methods

- Learning the material - Group analysis. - Defense of judgments.

Observation/demonstration teaching methods

- simulation (simulation games)

Expository teaching methods

- discussion
- description
- informative (conventional) lecture

Exploratory teaching methods

- points system
- presentation of a paper
- case study
- brainstorming

Type of course

elective course

Prerequisites

None

Course coordinators

Mariusz Popławski

Assessment criteria

Each participant is required to prepare an expert presentation on a selected country. The presentation should cover the following topics:

• Introductory section, estimated to cover no more than 25% of the presentation:

Geographical conditions

Social conditions, including demographics

Economic conditions

Historical conditions

• Main section, covering 75% of the presentation:

Administrative division

Levels

Bodies, including election, dismissal, constitutional position, and functions

Tasks

Financing

Relationship with central administration, including oversight

Specific issues – if any

A multimedia projector will be available. Preparing a multimedia presentation will significantly improve readability. Your own computer is preferred, but not required. The presentation should be no longer than 40 minutes.

In each session, after the presentation, participants will work in groups of five. Group work involves assessing the achievements in terms of the potential advantages and disadvantages of the local government system in a given country. It's worth paying attention to issues such as cohesion, transparency, ethicality, democratization, decentralization/centralization, collegiality/single-person structure, and the size of the administrative apparatus. The provisions of the European Charter of Local Self-Government will be particularly helpful in this assessment.

After deliberating and issuing opinions, the group presents its position to the general forum. Each presentation is made by a different person. The facilitator evaluates the group's conclusions.

The final grade consists of two elements:

Presentation (up to 14 points) (substantive value – 10 points; presentation format 2 points; time management 2 points).

Group work (up to 11 points)

Grading scale:

Very good 21-25

Good plus 20-19

Good 18-16

Satisfactory plus 15

Satisfactory 14-13

Insufficient 0-12

Practical placement

None

Bibliography

˗ Administracja i polityka. Europejska administracja publiczna, pod red. R. Wiszniowskiego, Wrocław 2007.

˗ Administracja publiczna, pod red. J. Hausnera, Warszawa 2006.

˗ Administracja publiczna. Wyzwania w dobie integracji europejskiej, pod red. J. Czaputowicza, Warszawa 2008.

˗ Czaputowicz J., Administracja publiczna, Warszawa 2005.

˗ Izdebski H., Kulesza M., Administracja publiczna. Zagadnienia ogólne, Warszawa 2004.

- Local Governance in Industrial Countries, pod red. A. Shah, Washington 2006.

- Local Democracy and Local Government, pod red. L. Pipera i D. Wilsona, London 1996.

˗ Mołdawa T., Wojtaszczyk K. A., Małecki M., Administracja publiczna w procesie dostosowania państwa do Unii Europejskiej, Warszawa 2003.

- Samorząd terytorialny w Europie - studia z nauk administracyjnych, pod red. P. Szreniawskiego, Lublin 2009.

˗ Samorząd terytorialny w Europie Środkowej i Wschodniej, pod red. M. Barańskiego, Toruń 2009.

˗ Samorząd terytorialny w Europie Zachodniej, pod red. L. Rajcy, Warszawa 2010.

˗ Samorząd terytorialny w Polsce i w Europie, pod red. A. Lutrzkowskiego i J. Marszałek-Kawy, Toruń 2008.

˗ Samorząd terytorialny w wybranych państwach europejskich, pod red. A.K. Piaseckiego, Kraków 2010.

˗ Samorząd terytorialny, pod red. P. Sarneckiego, Warszawa 2005.

˗ Samorząd terytorialny. Studium politologiczne, pod red. J. Marszałek-Kawy, Toruń 2007.

˗ Samorząd w Polsce. Istota, formy, zadania, pod red. S. Wykrętowicza, Poznań 2004.

˗ Supernat J., Europejska przestrzeń administracyjna (zagadnienia wybrane), Wrocław 2005.

˗ Trzciński K., Obywatelstwo w Europie. Z dziejów idei i instytucji, Warszawa 2006.

˗ Władza państwowa i administracja publiczna w państwach Europy Środkowej i Wschodniej, pod red. M. Barańskiego, Toruń 2007.

Additional information

Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system:

Description of 2751-KON-STUE in USOSweb