New Challenges in Local and Regional Administration

'A useful and interesting contribution to the body of literature that examines the political and administrative reform of states. The editors have assembled an intriguing range of perspectives on the processes of democratization, flexibilization and restructuring - notably as they are experienced in transitional and emerging states.' Dr Richard Welch, University of Otago, New Zealand 'This book, written by an international group of well-known scholars and resulting from vivid discussions, offers valuable theroretical insights and includes the results of the newest studies of the relationship between democracy at the national, regional and local levels, local governance and administrative reforms in old democracies, transitional and developing countries. Both practitioners from state agencies and municipalities, and university professors and students will certainly find in this publication chapters of great interest.' Vladimir Kolossov, Chair, IGU Commission on Political Geography 'In an age of unfettered globalization and neoliberalism, this book draws timely attention to the spatial impacts of economic and political restructuring in regions and localities. Thematically structured around concepts of democratization, flexibilization and restructuring, this book focuses on the resurgence of interest in democratic practices at local levels that is influenced by various social, economic and political contingencies, and which is crucial for the survival and development of fledgling democracies.' Professor Brij Maharaj, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa 'The book provides food for thought, as much in the empirical and practical domain as in the theoretical domain, and presents critical visions as well as discussions that are mainstream.' Belgian Journal of Geography

• Contents: Part I: Democratization: Local and national democracy: lessons from the 'third wave' of democratization, Brian Smith; Territorial reform of central-regional-local government relations: the implications for local economic development agencies in England, Robert J. Bennett; Municipal boundary change procedures: local democracy versus central control, Eran Razin and Greg Lindsey. Part II: Flexibilization: Multipurpose government and flexibility: an appraisal, Petr Dostál; Public-private partnerships and urban governance: towards a new concept of local government?, Carlos Nuñes Silva; Switzerland and the challenge of European integration, Wolf Linder; Flexibility in local public administration: responses to size and ethnic structure of communes in Slovakia, Ján Bucek. Part III: Restructuring in Transitional and Emerging States: Administrative territorial reform in Latvia: reasons, goals and strategy, Raita Karnite; Hometown associations and flexible governance in Nigeria, Rex Honey; Democratic institution building in the context of a liberation war: the example of Western Sahara and Polisario Front, Elisabeth Bäschlin; Challenges for restructuring of local government in a transition period: Palestine, Rassem Khamaisi; Index.