'A well written and valuable study [which] does much to get behind the mythology of debates about decentralisation...[It] deserves to be read by all concerned with the changing face of local politics.' - John Solomos, Political Studies

• PART 1: THE CONTEXT OF CHANGEIntroductionThe Crisis in Urban GovernmentRethinking Local DemocracyThe Character of Local Political InnovationPART 2: DECENTRALISED MANAGEMENT IntroductionNeighbourhood Decentralisation and the New Public ManagementShaking up the Bureaucracies Lessons From ExperiencePART 3: DECENTRALISED DEMOCRACY IntroductionEnhancing Participatory Democracy: IslingtonExtending Representative Democracy: Tower Hamlets Lessons From ExperiencePART 4: BEYOND DECENTRALISATION Re-empoweringLocal Government EmpoweringCommunities Local Democracy Beyond the Local State.

'A well written and valuable study [which] does much to get behind the mythology of debates about decentralisation...[It] deserves to be read by all concerned with the changing face of local politics.' - John Solomos, Political Studies

• PART 1: THE CONTEXT OF CHANGEIntroductionThe Crisis in Urban GovernmentRethinking Local DemocracyThe Character of Local Political InnovationPART 2: DECENTRALISED MANAGEMENT IntroductionNeighbourhood Decentralisation and the New Public ManagementShaking up the Bureaucracies Lessons From ExperiencePART 3: DECENTRALISED DEMOCRACY IntroductionEnhancing Participatory Democracy: IslingtonExtending Representative Democracy: Tower Hamlets Lessons From ExperiencePART 4: BEYOND DECENTRALISATION Re-empoweringLocal Government EmpoweringCommunities Local Democracy Beyond the Local State.