Place, Policy and Politics - Do Localities Matter? (Paperback)

The key aspect of the changing fortunes of British towns explored in this book is the ability of individual localities to exercise any control over their growth and decline. Arising out the the Changing Urban and Regional System in the UK research program, this book examines local political initiatives seeking to influence economic and social development. The books states that the 1980s have seen local government in the UK facing two challenges: to survive in the face of Thatcher government hostility and to adapt to the powerful forces of economic restructuring. This book examines what has happened in a range of seven selected localities, identifies the conditions that make for successful policy interventions, and explores the future role of local government. The book is intended for students and lecturers of urban and regional studies, sociology and urban geography.