Legitimacy and Urban Governance: A Cross- National Comparative Study (Routledge Studies in Governance and Public Policy)

A fresh examination of the relationship between two key issues in the on-going debate on urban governance - leadership and community involvement. It explores the nature of the interaction between community involvement and political leadership in modern local governance by drawing on empirical data gathered from case-studies concerning cities in England, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, and Sweden. It presents both a country specific and cross-cutting analysis of the contributions that communities and leaders can make to more effective local governance. These country specific chapters are complemented by thematic, comparative chapters addressing alternative forms of community involvement, types and styles of leadership, multi-level governance, institutional restrictions and opportunities for leadership and involvement, institutional conditions underpinning leadership and involvement, and political culture in cities. This up-to-date survey of trends and developments in local governance moves the debate forward by analysing modern governance with reference to theories related to institutional theory, legitimation, and the way urban leadership and community involvement compliment one another. This book will be of great interest to students and scholars of politics and urban governance, and to all those concerned with questions of local governance and democracy. Book Cover......Page 1 Half Title......Page 2 Series Title......Page 3 Title......Page 4 Copyright......Page 5 Contents......Page 6 Illustrations......Page 9 Contributors......Page 12 Preface......Page 14 Part I: Conceptual Considerations......Page 16 1. Introduction and Main Findings......Page 18 2. Sustainability and Policy Challenge: The Cases of Economic Competitiveness and Social Inclusion......Page 37 3. Measuring Institutional Performance in Achieving Urban Sustainability......Page 57 Part II: Case Study Results......Page 74 4. New Urban Leaders and Community Involvement: The Italian Case Studies......Page 76 5. Between Urban Leadership and Community Involvement: Impacts of EU Policies and Strong Mayors in Greek Local Government......Page 91 6. Traces of Governance: Policy Networking in Norwegian Local Government......Page 105 7. The Interplay of Central and Local: Social Inclusion Policy from Above in Swedish Cities......Page 117 8. Uneven Partnerships: Polish City Leaders in Search of Local Governance......Page 129 9. Tackling Community Leadership in the Confined Spaces of Local Governance in England......Page 146 10. Strong Mayors and Policy Innovations: Lessons from Two German Cities......Page 159 11. Between Vision and Consensus: Urban Leadership and Community Involvement in the Dutch Cases......Page 176 12. New Zealand: Articulating a Long-Term Vision for Community Well-Being......Page 188 Part III: Comparative Reflections......Page 204 13. Community Involvement and Legitimation in Urban Governance: An Empirical Analysis......Page 206 14. Local Leadership in Multi-Level Governance in Europe......Page 224 15. Restrictions, Opportunities and Incentives for Leadership and Involvement......Page 235 16. City Political Culture: What is Expected from Policy Actors?......Page 259 17. Institutional Conditions for Complementarities Between Urban Leadership and Community Involvement......Page 280 18. The Role of Political Leadership in the Promotion of Legitimation in Urban Policy: Opportunities and Constraints......Page 301 Index......Page 318 1. Introduction And Main Findings / Panagiotis Getimis, Hubert Heinelt And David Sweeting -- 2. Sustainability And Policy Challenge : The Cases Of Economic Competitiveness And Social Inclusion / Michael Haus And Hubert Heinelt -- 3. Measuring Institutional Performance In Achieving Urban Sustainability / Bas Denters And Pieter-jan Klok -- 4. New Urban Leaders And Community Involvement : The Italian Case Studies / Francesco Procacci And Cristiana Rossignolo -- 5. Between Urban Leadership And Community Involvement : Impacts Of Eu Policies And Strong Mayors In Greek Local Government / Despoina Grigoriadiou And Nektaria Marava. Edited By Hubert Heinelt, David Sweeting And Panagiotis Getimis. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. While addressing the problematic balance between economic performance and social cohesion, this text presents a new understanding of urban governance, leadership and community involvement This new study examines the relationship between two key issues in the on-going debate on urban governance - leadership and community involvement.