<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>The paper explores and explains the fragmentation process in Croatian local government during the transition period from 1990 onwards. Special focus is given to the emergence of new municipalities (municipal splits/secessions) that occurred after the new two-tier local government system was established in 1993. Excessive fragmentation of territorial structure at the beginning of the 1990s was a systematic and centrally driven reform that was meant to break with the inherited local government model and break up its territorial structure as radically as possible. While the initial overhaul in 1993 was mostly the result of conscious policy implemented in a top-down manner, subsequent municipal splits were mostly the outcome of local initiatives and lobbying, and were predominantly shaped by local, primarily economic factors, whereas political and cultural factors were of secondary importance. The national institutional context, including criteria and procedural rules for splits, were quite liberal during this whole period, with a moderate tightening-up trajectory. The number of municipalities finally stabilised in 2006, since when there have been no more splits.</p>
</abstract>

The paper explores and explains the fragmentation process in Croatian local government during the transition period from 1990 onwards. Special focus is given to the emergence of new municipalities (municipal splits/secessions) that occurred after the new two-tier local government system was established in 1993. Excessive fragmentation of territorial structure at the beginning of the 1990s was a systematic and centrally driven reform that was meant to break with the inherited local government model and break up its territorial structure as radically as possible. While the initial overhaul in 1993 was mostly the result of conscious policy implemented in a top-down manner, subsequent municipal splits were mostly the outcome of local initiatives and lobbying, and were predominantly shaped by local, primarily economic factors, whereas political and cultural factors were of secondary importance. The national institutional context, including criteria and procedural rules for splits, were quite liberal during this whole period, with a moderate tightening-up trajectory. The number of municipalities finally stabilised in 2006, since when there have been no more splits.

<bold>Process of local</bold> government fragmentation in Croatia: From a big-bang to a status quo

Miscellanea Geographica

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

 government fragmentation in Croatia: From a big-bang to a status quo

The paper explores and explains the fragmentation process in Croatian local government during the transition period from 1990 onwards. Special focus is given...

Process of local government fragmentation in Croatia: From a big-bang to a status quo

Published Online: Jan 20, 2021

Page range: 46 - 53

Received: Jul 01, 2020

Accepted: Oct 27, 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/mgrsd-2020-0043

Keywords
Croatia, local government, municipal splits, territorial fragmentation

© 2021 Mihovil Škarica, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Process of local government fragmentation in Croatia: From a big-bang to a status quo

Published Online: Jan 20, 2021

Page range: 46 - 53

Received: Jul 01, 2020

Accepted: Oct 27, 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/mgrsd-2020-0043

KeywordsCroatia, local government, municipal splits, territorial fragmentation

© 2021 Mihovil Škarica, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
Croatia, local government, municipal splits, territorial fragmentation