The Nature of British Local Government (Government Beyond the Centre) - Tapa dura

Distilling a lifetime of work experience by its author, this book provides a broad-ranging analysis of the role of British local government, its methods of working and its historical and contemporary context. John Stewart argues that much past writing has presented local government as if it were a uniform institution. While recognizing that there are uniformities, he stresses the diversity that is to be found in the politics and management of local authorities and analyzes the pressures promoting uniformity and continuity as well as those promoting diversity and change.

John Stewart is Emeritus Professor at the University of Birmingham.