ECPR Standing Group on Local Government & Politics

Our Summer School in Athens is wrapping up!

From inspiring paper presentations to thought-provoking lectures, we’ve spent the week exploring how local governments respond to global challenges.

A huge thank you to the organizers and participants 🙌

Last, but not least...

Our final panel at #ecprgc25 discusses collaborative governance.

Discover the paper presentations this afternoon at 13:30 EEST.

And the winner is... 🥁

We are thrilled to announce that the Ladner-Rose Best Paper Prize for #ecprgc24 has been awarded to Lieven Boelen and Kristof Steyvers for their paper on local democratic innovations.

Congrats! 🥳

Curious about smart and sustainable cities?

Don't miss your chance and join our panel at #ecprgc25

📢 Ready to start!
Our Business Meeting is about to begin in Room 313, Law Building.

#ECPR #LocalGovernment #ecprgc25

This afternoon our section at #ecprgc25 organises a panel on local policies and reforms.

Join the conversation and discover the exciting papers being presented.

Discover new cutting-edge research in our panel on the Economics of Multi-Level Governance.

See you there this morning?
#ecprgc25

Tomorrow morning we discuss the role of local governments in combatting climate change at #ecprgc25

Don't miss the promising papers in this panel.

🚀 Ready to start our second panel at #ecprgc25!
Local Politics and Individuals features four exciting papers exploring councillors’ roles, participatory tools, hate speech, and local opposition dynamics.

#ECPR #LocalGovernment #LocalPolitics #ecprgc25

Our Local Politics and Individuals panel at #ecprgc25 welcomes four promising papers.

Come share your ideas and explore new research.

🚀 A great start at #ecprgc25!
Our section on Local Government and Politics kicked off with an insightful panel on the Urban/Rural Divide.

👏 Many thanks to our speakers and participants for a truly engaging discussion!

#ECPR #LocalGovernment #UrbanRuralDivide #ecprgc25

🚀 Tomorrow our section at #ecprgc25 kicks off with a panel on the urban/rural divide.

Join the discussions and discover the papers.

Alongside #ecprgc25, the Summer School on Local Government & Politics is coming up soon in Greece.

With PhD students’ papers and lectures from senior researchers, we’ll explore how local governments respond to global challenges 🌍

Looking forward to seeing you in Athens! 😎

Alongside #ecprgc25, the Summer School on Local Government & Politics is coming up soon in Greece.

With PhD students’ papers and lectures from senior researchers, we’ll explore how local governments respond to global challenges 🌍

Looking forward to seeing you in Athens! 😎

Just a few days to go until the General Conference at Aristotle University in Thessaloniki.

We can't wait to welcome you to our section, chaired by Eva Marín Hlynsdóttir & Aldo Paparo.

Discover our nine panels 👇

Participating in our section "Local Governments and Politics in Europe in an Era of Global Challenges"? Don't forget to register by 23 July.

Local democracy also plays a vital role—it engages citizens, prepares political elites, and serves as a testing ground for democratic innovation. It is pretty useful to understand how it works”.

It's hard to imagine a modern welfare state or effective public services without decentralization and the empowerment of local authorities.

📈 Why does my research matter?
“Because local government matters, and the local context is crucial for understanding political behavior. Local governments are responsible for many essential functions.

Additionally, being part of a community of fellow researchers is a significant motivator for me. I strongly believe that research is a collective endeavor“.

🔬 What drives me to be a researcher?
“Curiosity, of course—but also skepticism. I believe it's important to challenge “common wisdoms,” as they don’t always hold up to empirical scrutiny.

For decades, comparative politics has focused mainly on cross-national comparisons, often overlooking the diversity within local government systems. As a result, there is still much to explore, discover, and systematize in this field”.

🤔 Why am I interested in these topics?
“Because local politics is fascinating—and in many respects, quite different from national politics. It is also far more diverse.

I’m also interested in the political geography of administrative divisions. For local government scholars, this involves issues such as amalgamation reforms, municipal mergers, and territorial splits”.
#Elections #LocalGov #PoliticalGeography

📚 What is my research?
“I study local politics—primarily local elections, including electoral systems, voting behavior, the role of local parties, and independent local lists.

🔎✨ Researcher Spotlight ✨🔎

👋 Meet @adamgendzwill.bsky.social from the University of Warsaw! His research explores local elections, political geography, and how municipal structures shape everyday democracy. 🗳️ 👇
#LocalPolitics #PoliticalScience #Democracy

These insights can inform policy reforms that strengthen local democracy and improve public services that impact people's daily lives".

#LocalGovernment #Reform #GoodGovernance

📈 Why does my research matter?

"My research helps identify which governance arrangements promote accountability, efficiency, and citizen engagement.

🔍 What drives me to be a researcher?

"I am driven by the desire to understand how local institutions can be designed to enhance democratic participation, improve service delivery, and create more responsive and transparent governance systems"

🤔 Why am I interested in these topics?

"I am fascinated by how local institutional choices affect democratic processes & policy outcomes. Local governments are laboratories for democracy where citizens directly experience the effects of institutional design & policy decisions"