Subnational Democracy in the European Union

This book, the result of a research project commissioned by the EU's Committee of the Regions, is the first and most comprehensive survey of the 'state of play' of the regional and local democracy covering all the member states of the European Union. It covers issues of vital importance to the practice of democracy at the subnational levels such as citizens' attitudes, electoral turnout, the role of political parties, and policy networks. The book examines ways in which national and subnational governments have attempted to improve subnational democracy through various mechanisms.