Local Government in Transition in Post-Socialist European Cities

Local governments throughout Central and Eastern Europe have faced a number of struggles in their dual transformation towards democratic governance and a market economy. Many post-Socialist cities face deindustrialization, declining populations, and limited incoming investment; however, some cities have weathered these challenges more effectively than others. Matthew Stenberg’s dissertation research examines the ways that important decisions, policies, and relationships made early in the transition period may have long-term effects that might affect outcomes today, focusing especially on local government administration. He looks at how variation (both within and across countries) in the transition process in the early 1990s may ultimately impact contemporary local state capacity in post-Socialist EU cities, with particular focus on mid-sized cities in East Germany and Poland.