Political Participation in a Potential Municipal Merger in the Turku Region Krister Lundell
City of Turku Turku Urban Research Programme RESEARCH BRIEFINGS 4b/2013 Political Participation in a Potential Municipal Merger in the Turku Region Krister Lundell unicipal mergers and other reforms at the local level have been on the agenda in Key messages most Western European countries since the 1950s. For instance, in Sweden and • A large majority of the citizens in Denmark, the total number of municipalities has been the Turku region believe that the reduced to roughly one tenth. Also in Belgium and the possibilities of participation and UK, the reduction of the number of municipalities has influence will diminish if a munici- been drastic. There are large variations between coun- pal merger takes place. However, tries concerning reasons, design, implementation and young people, students and those who live in the city of Turku have a the pace of the reforms. However, most of the municipal more positive view of the prospects amalgamations have one thing in common: the purpose 1 of democratic involvement than to improve local efficiency. others. Large municipal mergers have far-reaching implications • Apart from local elections, voting in for representative democracy. They are a challenge to advisory referendums was stated the organization and institutions of local democracy be- to be the most popular form of cause political decision-making becomes more distant democratic involvement. Similarly, from the citizens, creating a perceived lack of influence the citizen initiative device and new on local issues.2 This, in turn, may have a negative effect technology, for instance Internet- on democratic legitimacy. The on-going nationwide re- voting on various issues, have poten- form in municipal structures in Finland, which aims at tial for engaging citizens.
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