The History of the Development of Local (Self) Government in Serbia

Abstract

One of the key dilemmas faced in organizing a state and society concerns the importance afforded to central and local goals and interests. Adaptation to demographic, economic, political, scientific and technological changes in the environment requires changes in the status and role of local self-government. Adding to this mix, the constitutional and administrative traditions of Serbia affect the establishment and development of local self-government. Therefore, the enhancement of the model of local self-government must be studied using the historical method, among others. This paper aims to provide an overview of the historical development of local self-government in Serbia from the period of Developed Feudalism up to the mid-1990s. Historical considerations and traditions are vital to sustaining a certain practice of territorial decentralization of state power and to envisaging future solutions for the effective territorial organization and models of local (self) government in accordance with the realities of the region.