State Organisation in France and Germany between Territorially and Functionality -- Modernizing Sub-National Government in France: Institutional Creativity and Systemic Stability -- Sub-National Government and Regional Governance in Germany -- The Evolution of Public Personnel Systems in France: Structure and Reforms -- Civil Service in Germany: Between Cutback Management and Modernization -- French Territorial Administration and Changes in Public Management -- Local Government — A Strategic Resource in German Public Management Reform -- French Public Finances against Globalization: Resistance, Transformation, Reform -- Public Finance as Drivers and Constraints for Public Sector Reform in Germany -- Local Mirrors of State Modernisation: The Case of the Territorialisation of Employment Policy in France -- Public Sector Reforms and Local Governments in Germany: The Case of Local Social Policy -- From Government to Governance at the Local Level — Some Considerations based on Data Surveys with Mayors and Chief Executive Officers -- Reform and Modernization of Urban Government in France -- Modernizing German Local Government: Bringing the People Back in?.

The edited book aims at comparatively analysing the development and current situation of state and local government reforms in France and Germany. The articles address State and administrative traditions, intergovernmental relations, decentralisation, administrative modernisation, public finances, public sector personnel, local democracy, local (mayoral) leadership and decentral/local social policy.