The Korea Local Administration Review

Local autonomy used to be a problem of internal affairs of a state. After the Second World War the European Council made efforts to make local democracy a problem of international collaboration. The European Charter of Local Self-Government is one of the result of its efforts. The Charter commits the parties to apply basic rules guaranteeing the political, administrative and financial independence of local authorities. It provides that the principle of local self-government shall be recognised in domestic legislation and, where practicable, in the constitution. The Charter considers public responsibilities to be exercised preferably by the authorities closest to the citizens, the higher level being considered only when the co-ordination or discharge of duties is impossible or less efficient at the level immediately below. The principles of local self-government contained in the Charter apply to all the categories of local authorities. The content of the charter and related arguments are presented in this article. The charter exercises an influence on the globalzation of local autonomy. The world charter of local self-government is an example of its influence. This article covers worldwide attempts of globalization of local autonomy and the influences of the European Charter of Local Self- Government.