The resilience of local democracy in Europe in face of contemporary crises: between decentralisation and recentralisation
2026, No. 2
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Abstract
The article examines the role of local democracy in strengthening democratic resilience in Europe in face of contemporary crises. The author analyses how decentralisation and recentralisation affect the capacity of local authorities to respond to emergencies. The study applies an institutional and comparative analysis of the literature on democratic resilience, decentralisation and governance. The author considers the standards of the Council of Europe, the European Charter of Local Self-Government and the role of multi-level governance. Research results demonstrate that democratic resilience requires both the autonomy of local governance and effective cooperation between local, national and European levels.
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