01490pab a2200169 454500 180718b2000 xxu||||| |||| 00| 0 eng d Saltmarshe, Douglas Local government in practice: evidence from two villages in Northern Albania 2000 p.327-37 Oct This article examines how local government operated in two villages in Northern Albania and describes how these two communities organized themselves to negotiate with the state. Post-communist local government is examined by means of its functions as a provider and an organizer. The reluctance of central government to devolve power was reflected in the resources allocated to local government institutions and thus on their performance. While Albanian cultural traditions were a source of support and cohesion in the villages, they were no substitute for the development of the capacity to collectively negotiate with the state. There was a link between the way in which institutions were socially embedded and the capacity of the villages to form and support representative bodies. The article concludes that local government has been undervalued and argues for greater attention to be focused on the nexus composed of citizens and the institutions of government which are closest to them. - Reproduced Local government - Northern Albania Local government Public Administration and Development 46790 46790 46790 0 0 0 0 IIPA IIPA 2018-07-19 Volume no: 20, Issue no: 4 AR47218 2018-07-19 2018-07-19 AR