This book provides a clear introduction to all important areas of local politics, serving as an initial guide to the topic and a foundation for further study. The content covers social spatial dimensions, institutional frameworks, local political culture, municipal responsibilities, budgets and finances, local decision-making processes, as well as municipal issues and future development trends. The authors are Prof. Dr. Everhard Holtmann, a political scientist at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, and Dr. Marion Reiser, a political scientist at Goethe University Frankfurt am Main.