Marion Reiser, Everhard Holtmann Local independent lists as political actors are a common phenomenon on the local level in many European countries - in established Western democracies as well as in the 'new' democracies in Central and Eastern Europe. In some West European countries, these non-partisan groups have been an established and stable element in the local political system for decades. Ty- cally, they understand themselves as protectors of a harmonious factual political style. In their opinion, good local politics is not compatible with party politics so they consequently perceive themselves as non-parties. During the last two d- ades, presence and success of local lists have steadily increased in these co- tries. Furthermore, during the last years local lists emerged also in countries which had been formerly fully party-politicised on the local level. Explanations offered for these developments are often based on the observation of a general decline of trust in established parties and politicians. Hence, it has been argued that the disenchantment with political parties is a fertile ground for local lists. For the Central and East European countries, this argument can be - ployed only to a certain extent. Local lists established themselves in the early 1990's as important actors on the local level especially due to a lack of party organisation in the process of democratic consolidation.

Die kraft Grundgesetz verbriefte "Allzustandigkeit" der deutschen Gemeinden wird in der politischen Wirklichkeit mehrfach zuruckgestutzt, ja amputiert. Doch spiegelt sich in dieser verfassungsrechtlichen Norm die Vielfalt und Breite lokaler Politik und ihrer Problemlagen durchaus wieder. Fur eine knappe Uberblicksinformation, wie sie der vorliegende Band liefern soll, muss folglich der komplexe Gegenstand auf ein Darstellungsformat gebracht werden, welches Wichtiges nicht ausblendet, aber gleichwol ubersichtlich bleibt. Angelehnt an das Erklarungsmuster des Historischen Institutionalismus, wird im Folgenden der Weggewahlt, die Kommunalpolitik anhand ausgewahlter Entwicklungspfade darzustellen.