Open Access Article SciPap-858
Tendencies of Improvement of Local Self-Government in Political Parties’ Programmes and Their Implementation
by Diana Šaparnienė 1 iD icon and Iveta Reinholde 2

1 Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Recreation and Tourism, Klaipeda University, Herkaus Manto str. 84, Klaipėda LT-92294, Lithuania

2 Department of Political Sciences, University of Latvia, Lauvas str. 4, Riga LV-1019, Latvia

* Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Abstract: Having performed literary analysis, the aspects of improvement of local self-government in the context of new public governance have been theoretically substantiated. Referring to theoretical insights, the provisions of programmes of the biggest political parties of the Republic of Lithuania related to local self-government have been analysed covering period from December 12, 2012 to March 31, 2014. In addition, the agendas and reports of the meetings of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania have been analysed in order to determine main tendencies of improvement of local self-government that receive biggest attention from the political parties in decision making process. The research has shown that improvement of local self-government in the programmes of political parties is oriented to 4 tendencies: 1) independence/autonomy; 2) strengthening of democracy and civil society; 3) improvement of governance; 4) quality of public sector services. In the agendas of the meetings of Government of the Republic of Lithuania mainly the issues related to efficiency, effectiveness, legitimacy of local self-government, strengthening of abilities of civil servants have been analysed.

Keywords: Local Self-Government, New Public Governance (Npg), Political Parties, Programmes Of Political Parties, Republic Of Lithuania (Lt)

JEL classification:   L38 - Public Policy

SciPap 2017, 25(2), 858

Received: 23 October 2016 / Accepted: 20 March 2017 / Published: 2 June 2017