The relationship among public administration, citizens and organized civil society crystallizes at the local level. Local administrations experience changes as forerunners since administrative reforms are implemented here first. Consequently, the local level demands constantly for social and democratic innovation. From a transnational perspective the book reflects different national patterns and analyzes current local debates, local models of cooperation and local policies. The volume is structured into two major parts. The first part includes the conceptualization of the relationships between public administration, civ-il society and democracy as well as an introduction of the term of innovation. Methodological considerations of measuring innovation in public administration build the bridge to the empirical and contemporary second part of the book. Innovations in policies like urban development, affordable housing and childcare are analyzed by the transnational research team.
