Public Services - between the Municipal and Private Sector: "Return of Communes"?

Abstract

Since the 19th century and till now the problem of choice between different forms of services for the citizens and of the organizations giving the services on optimal level of life quality does not lose its actuality. The approach to solving the problem has changed many times: the first steps of the “municipal socialism” have been promoted by the welfare state, which was fully responsible for a life quality to the utmost. The main role played during the time the political rationality including ideas of equality and social justice. But in the second half of the 20th century the economic rationality won the leading place and many services have been privatized to cut the expenses of budgets on different level for subsidizing them. Such reforms were carried out mostly by conservative governments, the most radical ones in great Britain by M. Thatcher. At present the recommunalization of services in the communities is relatively intensive. It means the municipalities are turning round and taking back the municipal organizations and the responsibility for a life quality of their citizens.