Reclaiming Local Democracy: A Progressive Future for Local Government

✍ Scribed by Ines Newman

• Publisher: Policy Press
• Year: 2014
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 254
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

Austerity has left local government struggling to meet the demands for local services. In this context, this book asks ‘what are the fundamental principles that should guide decision-making by local councillors and officers?’ It seeks to move the agenda from ‘what works?’ to ‘what should local government do?’ and ‘how will its policies impact on social justice and local democracy?'. Reclaiming local democracy examines the politics of human need and argues that local government should provide a voice for those that lack power. It avoids the dry, familiar debate about what structures and powers local government should have, instead seeking to energise all concerned to re-engage with a political and ethical approach. Written in a persuasive and accessible way, the book examines how local government can develop active citizens and make a difference to the well-being of those in disadvantaged areas – truly 'reclaiming local democracy'. Combining theory and international practice, it will be relevant for councillors, policy officers and activists in the third sector, as well as academics and students in politics and social policy.

✦ Table of Contents

RECLAIMING LOCAL DEMOCRACY
Contents
Acknowledgements
About the author
Glossary and some abbreviations
1. Introduction
The argument
2. Learning from history
The ‘good city’: Victorian paternalism
Keynesian welfare state
The welfare state under pressure
The New Right
Creative autonomy and the new urban Left
Why did this change happen?
New Labour
The 2010 Coalition Government and localism
Conclusion
3. Injustice
Current government policy
Injustice
Neo-liberalism and the autonomy of the local state
The inadequacies of current solutions
Partnership and joined-up governance
Public value
The relational state
Conclusion
4. An ethical framework for local government
Does the policy rest on a firm ethical foundation?
Does the policy reinforce mutual obligations through universal provision?
Does the policy address rights?
Does the policy address distributive justice?
Does the policy lead to a deeper understanding of citizenship and the common good?
Does the policy address recognition and emancipation?
Does the policy help professionals deal with day-to-day ethical problems?
Does the policy consider future generations and promote sustainability?
Conclusion
5. Reclaiming local democracy
Defining democracy, accountability and participation
Democracy is not in terminal decline but the model of democratic elitism is dominant
Representative and participative democracy
Reframing local democracy
How councillors can enhance participatory democracy
Note on councillors and representative democracy
Conclusion
6. Recapturing discourse
Is language important?
Economic and market discourse
Responsibility discourse
Motherhood and apple pie discourse
Alternative discourse strategies
Conclusion
7. The future
Bringing together the key arguments of the book
Starting from an ethical framework
Working for national transformation with external social movements
Reclaiming capacity
Reclaiming autonomy
Democracy in the workplace
Supporting citizen agency
Final thoughts
References
Index