Description

Book Synopsis

Local government in the UK is in crisis. It is now neither local in terms of the geography and populations of its principle units, nor does it truly govern in these areas. As this book reveals, over the previous 200 years local government has moved from a system in which local interests held governance over localities to one in which central government and national and multi-national agencies such as corporate businesses hold governance over local and community decision-making. These changes seriously undermine the important role that local government can play in liberal democracy in the UK. The book explains the nature of local government today and asks if there is any possibility of change.



Table of Contents

Preface
Introduction
1 The evolution of the twentieth-century system
2 Theorising local government in Britain
3 Changing the boundaries
4 Can local governments govern? Powers and resources
5 Restructuring democracy within local authorities
6 Central control and local autonomy
7 How have local authorities coped with change?
8 Local government as expedient agencies of central government
9 Is there any possibility of change?
Conclusions and reflections
Index

Local Government and Democracy in Britain

    Product form

    A Hardback by Neil Barnett, J. Chandler

    £63.75

    Includes FREE delivery

    RRP £85.00 – you save £21.25 (25%)

    Order before 4pm today for delivery by Thu 3 Sep 2026.

    1 in stock

      Trusted by thousands of customers. See 2,385+ Customer Reviews

      View other formats and editions of Local Government and Democracy in Britain by Neil Barnett

      Book details

      Publisher Manchester University Press
      Published 14 November 2023
      ISBN-13 9781526150646
      978-1526150646
      ISBN-10 1526150646
      Also in:
      Comparative politics Democracy

      Description

      Book Synopsis

      Local government in the UK is in crisis. It is now neither local in terms of the geography and populations of its principle units, nor does it truly govern in these areas. As this book reveals, over the previous 200 years local government has moved from a system in which local interests held governance over localities to one in which central government and national and multi-national agencies such as corporate businesses hold governance over local and community decision-making. These changes seriously undermine the important role that local government can play in liberal democracy in the UK. The book explains the nature of local government today and asks if there is any possibility of change.



      Table of Contents

      Preface
      Introduction
      1 The evolution of the twentieth-century system
      2 Theorising local government in Britain
      3 Changing the boundaries
      4 Can local governments govern? Powers and resources
      5 Restructuring democracy within local authorities
      6 Central control and local autonomy
      7 How have local authorities coped with change?
      8 Local government as expedient agencies of central government
      9 Is there any possibility of change?
      Conclusions and reflections
      Index

      Recently viewed products

      © 2026 Book Curl

        • American Express
        • Apple Pay
        • Diners Club
        • Discover
        • Google Pay
        • Maestro
        • Mastercard
        • PayPal
        • Shop Pay
        • Union Pay
        • Visa

        Login

        Forgot your password?

        Don't have an account yet?
        Create account