ONE IS GOOD, BUT THREE ARE BETTER? CHALLENGES OF REFORMS IMPLEMENTATION IN MULTI-LEVEL GOVERNANCE SYSTEMS. THE CASE OF MILITARY REFORM IN GERMANY 2000–2003
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17072/2218-1067-2024-4-92-101Keywords:
multi-level governance, European Union, policy, institutions, policy change, Germany, ; defense policyAbstract
Existing literature on multi-level governance suggests that interactions between actors at different levels lead to successful, more efficient implementation of policies. Using the example of the failed military reform of 2000–2003 in Germany, we show that multi-level governance can complicate the implementation of reforms. Particular attention is paid to how actors at the supranational and regional level try to exploit opportunities that are not provided by established rules. By formulating hypotheses through a top-down implementation approach, we use process tracing and secondary data (documents, media reports, and interviews taken by other researchers) to prove our point. As a result, it can be argued that supranational institutions indirectly influenced bureaucrats at the stage of planning the reform project. In addition, we believe that the actions of regional actors, who have no interest in economic losses and are an interest group directly involved in the implementation of the reform, have led to a decline in support for the reform and a cessation of the flow of resources necessary for its implementation.References
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