The Public and Political Scope of Decentralisation in the Trnava Region of Slovakia

In the article, the author endeavours to identify and define peculiar features of a post-socialist decentralisation model as represented by the western region of the Slovak Republic, namely, the Trnava Region. The integrated systemic analysis of public structures (expert sociological survey) and of the political layout (method of comparative politological analysis) of the Trnava Region was employed. The conceptual framework of the study relies on the post-socialist decentralisation model suggested by Peter Swianiewicz. The main empiric toolkit includes the method of an expert survey among local deputies and officials, a comparative microanalysis of political and economic indicators of the Trnava Region development and the latest monitoring of the management system efficiency in Slovakia according to Bertelsmann Index. The decentralisation model in the Trnava Region corresponds to the logic of Swianiewicz's post-socialist decentralisation, according to which the main indicators of decentralisation are the optimised administrative-territorial structure of the region, the horizontal organisation of managerial relations and the double nature of the local budgets' filling. In the course of the study, it was determined that the Eurointegration processes of the early 2000s along with the implementation of fiscal decentralisation starting with 2004-05 became an impetus for the consolidation of decentralisation. The specific of the Trnava Region lies in the relatively high level of social and economic provision of communities across the whole of Slovakia (in fact, being inferior only to Bratislava). An important complement to the overall success of decentralisation is the active cross-border cooperation of the Trnava Region with Austria, Hungary and the Czech Republic, mainly within the Interreg Europe, the EU programme aimed at stimulating the development of the border areas. The financial autonomy of the region is predetermined by simultaneously the main cause and result of the decentralisation reform with the minimal impact of the political and party situation in the region. It is peculiar for the Trnava Region to observe a slight rotation of political elites, an electoral struggle mainly taking place between all-national parties and regional Hungarian political coalitions. The highest official office of the president of the region (Zhupan) is, as a rule, static; however, the latest regional elections have unexpectedly changed the status quo. The maximum decentralisation efficiency index in the Trnava Region is 70-80%, which is 10% higher than in Slovakia as a whole. It is necessary to note the three key waves of decentralisation in Slovakia: recession (1998-2010), recovery (2011-12), recession (2013-17). According to the management indices, the most problematic areas are the high level of administrative bureaucracy as well as weak management communication between the centre and the regions.

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