Councillors, citizens and agendas: aspects of local decision-making in Britain

Necessary Asymmetry or Undemocratic Imbalance? Professionalisation in the Recruitment and Career of Belgian Local Councillors

“…Although there are no formal schools for politics, associations often figure as informal schools (Kjaer 2006). Indeed, citizens pick up organisational and communicative skills in this setting, allowing them to expand and draw on personal and political networks (Moyser and Parry 1986). Laymen are thereby usually embedded in organisations of their local community whilst political parties are the outstanding apprenticeship for professionalised councillors (Eliassen and Pedersen 1978).…”

“…Laymen are thereby usually embedded in organisations of their local community whilst political parties are the outstanding apprenticeship for professionalised councillors (Eliassen and Pedersen 1978). Consequently, parties are claimed to be the perfect steppingstone towards a political career (Moyser and Parry 1986, Meadowcroft 2001, Lazarus 2008.…”

Der Gender Gap in Schweizer Stadtparlamenten

“…So zeigte sich in verschiedenen Studien, dass die politische Partei eine zentrale politische Ausbildungsstätte darstellt und die Mitgliedschaft in einer Partei ein perfektes Sprungbrett für ein politisches Mandat und die weitere politische Laufbahn bedeutet (vgl. Lazarus 2008; Moyser/Parry 1986; Prewitt 1970). In den Schweizer Stadtparlamenten sind insgesamt 87.6% aller Mitglieder als Kandidaten einer nationalen Partei ins Amt gewählt worden.…”