Germany: Administration Meets Community

In Germany the role of the citizen is a topical issue. Following the reunification of the country, there have been several indications of political dissatisfaction. In connection with this, local democracy may be of particular relevance for closing the growing gap between citizens and government. Two cities have been studied, namely Nuertingen and Leipzig. In both cities, the emphasis lies on co-operation between citizens and the local administration. The strengthening of representative democracy as such gets less attention. In Nuertingen, the policy of involving citizens is based upon communitarian ideas. In Leipzig, the strategy is aimed at improving the problem-solving capacity of the municipality and the functioning of the municipal bureaucracy.