Bürgermeisterinnen und Bürgermeister in Zeiten der Krise

How do German mayors perceive their political and administrative leadership role? This study focuses on mayors of small and structurally weak municipalities of the Vogtlandkreis and Hof constituencies during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using a qualitative research design based on grounded-theory-methodology (GTM), it becomes clear that the leadership role is seen very differently. As a key finding, five typological patterns of argumentation are reconstructed. These underline the importance of mayors for a stable and vibrant democracy.

Jonas Rädel holds a PhD in political science from Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg. His research focuses on local politics and the transformation of the eastern German states.