Drawing on the author's unrivalled experience and expertise in both research and policy-making, this important new book provides a systematic assessment of the changing nature of local governance in Britain and a conceptual framework for understanding the new governance of localities. The author analyzes in detail what New Labour has been trying to do to local governance and management and assesses how and why it has achieved only a mixed record of change. The book concludes by providing a vision of good local governance and an assessment of future challenges for research and reform.

Gerry Stoker is Professor of Governance at the University of Southampton, UK.

Introduction
The Emerging System of Local Governance
The Legacy of the Conservatives: Governance by Default
New Labour: Embracing Local Governance?
Understanding New Labour's Reform Strategy
Improving Service Delivery Under New Labour
Democratic Renewal: Getting People to Participate
Promoting Local Political Leadership
Partnership and Joining-Up in Ear of Multi-Level Governance
Local Finance: Coming to Terms with Governance?
The Challenge of Governance
New Labour and Local Governance: Unfinished Business.