El gobierno y la administración local ante la globalización y la crisis de representación

Abstract

The phenomenon of globalization entails significant changes in the way of acting of the institutions and in the distribution of public power, making necessary a strengthening of the role of citizens in the model of representative democracy. This study focuses on the analysis of the role that the Government and the Local Administration should play in the context exposed. The reform of the Local Administration is common in different European countries, nevertheless, in the Spanish scenario, government’s power level closest to society seems debilitated. The most effective way to progress on democratic quality is from the bottom-up, where the principles of subsidiarity and proximity acquire greater prominence. The proximity among authorities and citizens improves the problems of political representation, while at the same time it is compatible with the ability to respond to global demands.