La democrazia locale: ragioni, forme, prospettive

The essay argues the constitutional centrality of local democracy, both in the light of the Italian Constitution, and of the practices of democratic participation at the municipal level. These practices have already stimulated the adoption of institutional tools suitable for promoting and enhancing citizens’ participation. The challenge for local democracy is the enhancement, rather than the dispersion, of this democratic energy in the relationship with the highest institutional levels, starting with the European Union.