Multi-level governance in local governments in the Federal Republic of Germany
Multi-level governance in local governments in the Federal Republic of Germany

Summary/Abstract: Performing public tasks as part of multi-level governance, municipal governments in Germany play the most vital role in the network system. As state bodies, they initiate and change the forms of coordination of collective actions. The main issue addressed in this paper is the use of a conceptual grid applied in the deconcentrated structure of public administration in Anglo-Saxon countries for the description of multilevel governance in decentralized forms of public administration. The main aim of this paper is to present how the concept of multi-level governance has been adapted to the specific character of German municipal government and what its essence is. The following research questions are asked to achieve the main aim: What is the difference in the genesis of governance in Germany in comparison to the tradition of Anglo-Saxon countries? How are public tasks performed within the framework of multi-level governance in Germany? What are the organizational and legal forms of performing public tasks? The paper was prepared following the assumptions of the new institutionalism. In order to present ways of performing public tasks in the concept of multi-level governance the functional method was used. This enabled the selection of those tasks that can be implemented by both local government units and self-governing business institutions. Additionally, the institutional method was used to show the specificity of cooperation between municipal governments and other public and private entities. The research on multi-level governance in Germany resulted in three conclusions providing the framework for this paper. Firstly, the emergence of multi-level governance in Germany has been based on top-down activities which occur between the federal states and municipalities. The creation of network systems results from the conviction of the state authorities that the implementation of public tasks is more effective in cooperation with private organizations which are moderated by regulatory entities. Secondly, before implementing multi-level governance on the local level, regional governance has been established at the level of the Lands, allowing the concept of governance to be adjusted to the specific requirements of a federal state. Thirdly, multi-level governance has been embedded in the structure of local government through a specific type of public task (Gemeinschaftsaufgaben).

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