Inbook2026

The role of Italian Local Authorities in Conferences with Other Government Levels

Parolari S, Klotz G

This chapter focuses on the intergovernmental relations between local authorities, Regions and the State in Italy. It provides an overview of intergovernmental relations involving local authorities and assess their impact on national and regional policy-making. The chapter describes Italy’s local governance system and discusses the importance of collaboration mechanisms between local authorities and higher levels of government, highlighting the lack of parliamentary representation for municipalities and formal forms of collaboration with the municipalities at national and regional level. The chapter shows that there have been no significant legal changes in formal relations at the national level in recent years. However, local actors’ political influence has grown in practice, even if it is fragile due to its dependence on leaders’ abilities and terms.

DOI Source

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-99820-1_10

Book2025

Interkommunale Kooperation im Alpenraum: die lokalen Dienstleistungen in Graubünden, Südtirol und Tirol

Klotz G

Greta Klotz

Project: 2f/2025 Municipalities and institutional cooperation in multilevel systems: The local level of governance between identity, participation and efficiency - a comparative analysis with special focus on South Tyrol

ISBN: 978-3-631-93080-9

Im Alpenraum gehören die Gemeinden schon lange zu den zentralen politischen Akteuren. Allerdings sind sie vielerorts für die Fülle ihrer komplexer werdenden Zuständigkeiten personell wie finanziell nicht ausreichend ausgestattet. Der Ausgangspunkt dieses Buches ist, dass Gemeinden zwar eine wesentliche Rolle im Mehrebenensystem zukommt, sie diese aber häufig nicht (mehr) allein bewältigen können und zunehmend auf Zusammenarbeit angewiesen sind. Dieses Buch untersucht die interkommunale Kooperation als mögliche Lösungsstrategie für lokale Herausforderungen. Ziel ist es, aufzuzeigen, in welcher Form und Intensität Gemeinden in Graubünden, Südtirol und Tirol kooperieren und ob diverse Gemeindetypen Kooperation unterschiedlich nutzen und bewerten. Die ausgewählten Fälle betreffen drei Gebiete, die einerseits über ähnliche Bedingungen verfügen, andererseits aber zum Teil unterschiedliche politische Strategien verfolgen, um das lokale Regieren effizienter zu gestalten. Dieses Buch ist eine interdisziplinäre Forschungsarbeit im Bereich der vergleichenden Föderalismus- und Regionalismusforschung.

Inbook2024

Italy

Alber E, Valdesalici A, Klotz G

Alice Valdesalici, Elisabeth Alber, Greta Klotz

The different types of local government (metropolitan cities, provinces, municipalities), are caught between national and regional legislation in a situation in which the national legislature has the upper hand, with the exception in a few special regions in Italy’s system of asymmetrical regionalism. Although the system of local government was and still is quite symmetrical on the whole, in practice it is less than fully symmetrical with regard both to the performance of local governments and to their role in intergovernmental relations. Local governments are in search of role-clarity amidst a background of a unstable politics and several seasons of unfinished (federal) reforms. Meanwhile, intergovernmental relations are complicated by structural challenges, by a range of socio-demographic trends such as urbanisation and the hyper-fragmentation of local governments, and by the challenges arising from the financial crisis of 2008 and later from the Covid-19 pandemic.

DOI Source

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-41283-7_10

Journal article2023

Le elezioni regionali in Trentino Alto Adige/Südtirol

Gianola M, Klotz G

Greta Klotz

DOI Source

DOI: 10.14658/pupj-RSLD-2023-2-4

Journal article2023

Proceed with Cautio: Local Governance and Municipal Horizontal Strategies Assessed by Local Elites in the Alpine Area

Bolgherini S, Klotz G

Greta Klotz

Municipalities1 face increasing demands in terms of quality and efficiency of public services, but not all are able to meet these expectations. Horizontal governance strategies such as inter-municipal cooperation (IMC) and municipal amalgamations are often cited in the literature as possible solutions to these local challenges. Is this statement also shared by local political elites (mayors) or is it only a theoretical consideration? This article aims to investigate the extent to which IMC and amalgamations are considered helpful strategies in local governance. By applying to municipal horizontal strategies (MHS) the theoretical dimensions of Europeanness of elites, empirical evidence on the assessments of mayors in three subnational units of the Alpine area (Grisons, South Tyrol and Tyrol) are provided and discussed. Findings show that the evaluation of horizontal strategies is influenced by the perceived benefits of such strategies, prior experience, and the relevant context, thus supporting the theory. Other findings, however, refute some theoretical assumptions, such as, that difficult financial conditions should enhance amalgamation. In addition, while IMC is evaluated positively, amalgamation is not seen as an effective solution to local challenges. The Alpine area provides useful insight for further investigation of local elite research in particular territorial contexts.

DOI

DOI: 10.1080/02513625.2023.2257488

Journal article2023

Proceed with Caution: Local Governance and Municipal Horizontal Strategies Assessed by Local Elites in the Alpine Area

Bolgherini S, Klotz G

Greta Klotz

Municipalities1 face increasing demands in terms of quality and efficiency of public services, but not all are able to meet these expectations. Horizontal governance strategies such as inter-municipal cooperation (IMC) and municipal amalgamations are often cited in the literature as possible solutions to these local challenges. Is this statement also shared by local political elites (mayors) or is it only a theoretical consideration? This article aims to investigate the extent to which IMC and amalgamations are considered helpful strategies in local governance. By applying to municipal horizontal strategies (MHS) the theoretical dimensions of Europeanness of elites, empirical evidence on the assessments of mayors in three subnational units of the Alpine area (Grisons, South Tyrol and Tyrol) are provided and discussed. Findings show that the evaluation of horizontal strategies is influenced by the perceived benefits of such strategies, prior experience, and the relevant context, thus supporting the theory. Other findings, however, refute some theoretical assumptions, such as, that difficult financial conditions should enhance amalgamation. In addition, while IMC is evaluated positively, amalgamation is not seen as an effective solution to local challenges. The Alpine area provides useful insight for further investigation of local elite research in particular territorial contexts.

DOI

DOI: 10.1080/02513625.2023.2257488

Journal article2022

I sindaci tra politica territoriale e vincoli di governance: come le élite locali valutano gli strumenti di cooperazione orizzontale tra comuni

Bolgherini S, Klotz G

Greta Klotz

I comuni devono far fronte a richieste crescenti in termini di qualità ed efficienza dei servizi pubblici, ma non tutti sono in grado di soddisfare queste aspettative. Gli strumenti di governance orizzontale sono spesso citati in letteratura come una possibile soluzione a queste sfide locali. Questa affermazione è condivisa anche dalle élite politiche locali (sindaci) o è solo una considerazione teorica? Questo articolo si propone di approfondire, in tre regioni dell’arco alpino, in che misura la cooperazione intercomunale (IMC) e la fusione di comuni siano considerate una soluzione efficace. I risultati mostrano che la valutazione della governance orizzontale è influenzata dai benefici percepiti rispetto agli strumenti utilizzati, dall’esperienza pregressa e dal contesto di riferimento, supportando così la teoria. Altri risultati invece smentiscono alcuni assunti teorici, ad esempio che le condizioni finanziarie difficili favoriscano le fusioni. Inoltre, mentre la IMC è valutata positivamente, la fusione non è considerata una soluzione efficace per le sfide locali.

DOI

DOI: 10.14658/pupj-RSLD-2022-1-3

Journal article2021

Context-driven Local Autonomy. The importance of differentiated assessments in asymmetric countries

Bolgherini S, Klotz G, Fromm UL

Greta Klotz

Project: 1e/2022: PARtTERRe - PARticipation and TERRitorial policies. Tools for policy-making and quality of local democracy, 2f/2025 Municipalities and institutional cooperation in multilevel systems: The local level of governance between identity, participation and efficiency - a comparative analysis with special focus on South Tyrol

Local autonomy is a core issue in democracies, and there have been multiple attempts to measure it. Most of these efforts provide cross-country comparable data based on country-level scores, thus neglecting in-country territorial differences. This study stresses the multidimensionality of local autonomy, its context-driven variability, and the importance of acknowledging and assessing territorial differentiation in order to provide more accurate measurements of municipal local autonomy. It thus explores the variations in the degree of local autonomy at the municipal level in Italy by region and not only at the country level. Italy is a particularly interesting case due to its quasi-federal asymmetry, while the federal systems of Austria and Switzerland provide further evidence of these variations. Our findings—gathered in two original datasets—show that discrepancies in local autonomy across regions are remarkably present, particularly when regional autonomy is high, that they emerge regardless of the formal competences allocated by the legal framework, that they dissimilarly vary across the dimensions of autonomy, and that they can be traced back to the impact of austerity measures, the reforms indirectly but substantially impacting local government, and the context-driven perceptions of the meaning of autonomy. These results may be relevant to analyses of asymmetric realities in multilevel democracies in Europe and beyond.

DOI Source

DOI: 10.3917/ripc.281.0207

Database2020

Differentiated Local Autonomy in Italy (2020)

Bolgherini S, Klotz G, Lennart Fromm U

Greta Klotz

Project: 1e/2022: PARtTERRe - PARticipation and TERRitorial policies. Tools for policy-making and quality of local democracy, 2f/2025 Municipalities and institutional cooperation in multilevel systems: The local level of governance between identity, participation and efficiency - a comparative analysis with special focus on South Tyrol

This dataset provides updated and more detailed data on the ‘Local Autonomy Index’ (LAI) for Italy. It is part of a more articulated project seeking to explore the link between territorial policies and citizens' participation. The degree of Local Autonomy has been assessed in Italy in the two main clusters of subnational units, namely the 15 Ordinary Status Regions and the five Special Status Regions. The two clusters enjoy different constitutional and legal prerogatives, which influence the degree of autonomy of their relevant local authorities.

DOI Source

DOI: 10.7802/2119

Database2020

Local Autonomy in selected Alpine Regions (2020)

Bolgherini S, Klotz G, Lennart Fromm U

Greta Klotz

Project: 1e/2022: PARtTERRe - PARticipation and TERRitorial policies. Tools for policy-making and quality of local democracy, 2f/2025 Municipalities and institutional cooperation in multilevel systems: The local level of governance between identity, participation and efficiency - a comparative analysis with special focus on South Tyrol

This dataset provides updated data on the ‘Local Autonomy Index’ (LAI) for a group of 8 Alpine substate entities. It is part of a more articulated project seeking to explore the link between territorial policies and citizens' participation. The subnational entities have been selected in the Alpine Arc countries: in the Swiss confederation, the Cantons Grisons and Valais; in Italy, the Special Status Regions Aosta Valley, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol; in the Austrian federal state, the Länder Tyrol and Vorarlberg.

DOI Source

DOI: 10.7802/2054

Book2019

Governance transfrontaliera e vicinanza ai cittadini: Il ruolo dei comuni di confine nell’Euregio Tirolo-Alto Adige-Trentino

Alber E, Engl A, Klotz G, Kofler I

Elisabeth Alber, Alice Engl, Greta Klotz

ISBN: 978-88-98857-55-5

La cooperazione transfrontaliera è particolarmente importante per i comuni situati in prossimità di confini regionali o nazionali. I comuni di confine devono affrontare, per esempio, sfide nell’ambito del trasporto pubblico, della sanità e della protezione civile. Questi settori presentano una componente transfrontaliera diretta ed esigono soluzioni innovative da parte dei comuni in quanto il potere decisionale di questi ultimi è spesso insufficiente.

Questo libro mostra, in base agli esempi di tre coppie di comuni situati ai confini interni dell’Euregio Tirolo - Alto Adige - Trentino, come questi percepiscano i confini, quali sfide giornaliere incontrino e quale ruolo possa giocare l’Euregio in questo contesto.

Book2019

Grenzüberschreitende Governance und Bürgernähe: Die Rolle von „Grenz“-Gemeinden in der Europaregion Tirol-Südtirol-Trentino

Alber E, Engl A, Klotz G, Kofler I

Elisabeth Alber, Alice Engl, Greta Klotz

Project: ABI - Borderscapes and minority communtities

ISBN: 978-88-98857-55-5

Grenzüberschreitende Zusammenarbeit ist besonders für Gemeinden wichtig, welche sich an einer regionalen oder nationalen Grenze befinden. Grenzgemeinden haben zum Beispiel in Bereichen des öffentlichen Nahverkehrs, der Gesundheitsversorgung und des Zivilschutzes mit Herausforderungen zu kämpfen, welche unmittelbar eine grenzüberschreitende Komponente aufweisen und den Gemeinden innovative Lösungen abverlangen, weil kommunale Befugnisse oft nicht ausreichend sind. Dieses Buch zeigt anhand von Beispielen von drei Gemeindepaaren, die an den Innengrenzen der Europaregion Tirol – Südtirol – Trentino liegen, wie diese Gemeinden die Grenze wahrnehmen, welchen Herausforderungen sie im Alltag begegnen und welche Rolle die Europaregion in diesem Zusammenhang spielen kann.

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Greta Klotz

About

Scientific Publications

The role of Italian Local Authorities in Conferences with Other Government Levels

Interkommunale Kooperation im Alpenraum: die lokalen Dienstleistungen in Graubünden, Südtirol und Tirol

Italy

Le elezioni regionali in Trentino Alto Adige/Südtirol

Proceed with Cautio: Local Governance and Municipal Horizontal Strategies Assessed by Local Elites in the Alpine Area

Proceed with Caution: Local Governance and Municipal Horizontal Strategies Assessed by Local Elites in the Alpine Area

I sindaci tra politica territoriale e vincoli di governance: come le élite locali valutano gli strumenti di cooperazione orizzontale tra comuni

Context-driven Local Autonomy. The importance of differentiated assessments in asymmetric countries

Differentiated Local Autonomy in Italy (2020)

Local Autonomy in selected Alpine Regions (2020)

Governance transfrontaliera e vicinanza ai cittadini: Il ruolo dei comuni di confine nell’Euregio Tirolo-Alto Adige-Trentino

Grenzüberschreitende Governance und Bürgernähe: Die Rolle von „Grenz“-Gemeinden in der Europaregion Tirol-Südtirol-Trentino

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Scientific Publications

The role of Italian Local Authorities in Conferences with Other Government Levels

Interkommunale Kooperation im Alpenraum: die lokalen Dienstleistungen in Graubünden, Südtirol und Tirol

Italy

Le elezioni regionali in Trentino Alto Adige/Südtirol

Proceed with Cautio: Local Governance and Municipal Horizontal Strategies Assessed by Local Elites in the Alpine Area

Proceed with Caution: Local Governance and Municipal Horizontal Strategies Assessed by Local Elites in the Alpine Area

I sindaci tra politica territoriale e vincoli di governance: come le élite locali valutano gli strumenti di cooperazione orizzontale tra comuni

Context-driven Local Autonomy. The importance of differentiated assessments in asymmetric countries

Differentiated Local Autonomy in Italy (2020)

Local Autonomy in selected Alpine Regions (2020)

Governance transfrontaliera e vicinanza ai cittadini: Il ruolo dei comuni di confine nell’Euregio Tirolo-Alto Adige-Trentino

Grenzüberschreitende Governance und Bürgernähe: Die Rolle von „Grenz“-Gemeinden in der Europaregion Tirol-Südtirol-Trentino

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