The local polity may often be the first to experience societal challenges that require political action. These may derive from structural changes, e.g. globalization, Europeanization, urbanization and demographic transformations such as the increasing number of elderly and immigrants in the society. Challenges may also occur as ideas, concerning for example good governance; citizens’ rights; or the need to improve democratic legitimacy. These pressures for change are often pursued by various actors such as interest organizations. However, local government is not only passively responding to altering conditions but may itself also be an agent of change, for example by actively pursuing an agenda of strengthened self-governance.
