Introduction

Historically Germany’s local government level has played a major political, administrative and socio-economic role in the country’s political system. Recently it has faced an all but unprecedented “accumulation” and “overlapping” of challenges and crises (such as climate change and energy crisis, massive influx of migrants and asylum seekers, repercussion of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine). This book is meant to provide an overview and analysis of the long-term development and current state of local government in focusing on recent challenges and responses.