Politikaszintek

Politikaszintek is a term used in political science and public administration to describe the layering or hierarchy of political decision-making and policy implementation according to the level at which actors operate and policies are formulated.

Common levels include local, regional, national, and supranational or global. The local level handles municipal services and local governance; the regional level coordinates between municipalities and oversees regional development; the national level enacts national laws, allocates budgets, and defines overarching policy frameworks; the European or global level addresses cross-border issues, harmonizes regulations, or coordinates global public goods. Some analyses also distinguish transnational or international levels where non-state actors and international institutions play a role.

The concept is closely related to subsidiarity and multi-level governance. It emphasizes that authority, resources, and accountability are distributed across levels, and that policy problems may require action at multiple levels in a complementary way. The flow of responsibilities can be vertical (across levels) and horizontal (across sectors and actors). Policy analysis often maps competences, funding, and decision rights to understand implementation pathways and governance gaps.

In Hungary and the European Union, politikaszintek are central to understanding decentralization, EU cohesion policy, and cross-border cooperation. National authorities set broad policy frames and standards; regional and local bodies manage implementation; EU institutions coordinate programs and provide funds to align local and national developments with broader European objectives.

See also: subsidiarity, multi-level governance, decentralization, public policy.