Revisiting subsidiarity: Not only administrative decentralization but also multidimensional polycentrism

Abstract

The discussion on “territorial governance” has gained traction in the last decade. The issue of territorial governance is particularly important because it invites us to revisit certain traditional ideas concerning institutions, their tasks, and the scale and level of intervention. In this regard, a crucial concept is that of “subsidiarity”. The concept of “subsidiarity” is widely used both in the academic literature and in the public debate, as well as in laws and directives. This article critically revisits the ideal of subsidiarity. As will be demonstrated, the ideal of subsidiarity can prove decisive for new forms of territorial governance. However, this will only happen if subsidiarity is understood in a truly innovative sense; that is, placing the emphasis (i) (not solely on vertical subsidiarity but, also) on horizontal subsidiarity, and not interpreting the latter (ii) only from a perspective of solidarity, or (iii) only as a services issue, or (iv) only as a form of action agreed and coordinated with public authorities. The point is that, while promoting vertical subsidiarity merely requires “administrative decentralization”, promoting horizontal subsidiarity requires a more radical revision of current national, regional and urban realities in a direction characterised by what can be called “multidimensional polycentrism”.