Thesiss

Between the excitement of national championships and the protests for justice, college towns are expressive communities that have something to offer a wide range of citizens. Relationships between institutions of higher education and the local governments within which they resid…

This study is an ethnographic exploration of the Pakistani state as it implemented a number of reforms aimed at achieving conditions of good-governance and development. Based on fieldwork conducted from January to December 2006 in Islamabad city and district Kohat of the North W…

Research literature identifies ethical leadership, a leadership grounded in ethical norms and practice, as a critical vehicle for achieving organizational goals and fostering good governance. However, little research on leadership has focused on the public sector, leaving a gap …

Devolution of power, responsibilities, and resources from central to local governments has been the foundation of decentralization reforms in developing countries like Ethiopia. The most recent decentralization reforms in Ethiopia began in the early 2000s at the woreda (district…

After Kazakhstan gained its independence from the USSR in December 1991, the Republic instituted a number of political, social, and economic reforms to confront the new realities. The reforms were not introduced immediately though. Eventually, in 1993 the Republic engaged in a s…

This study examines the relations between the state and an ethnic minority in Israel. In focusing upon the Arab region of the Little Triangle, the study analyzes the state’s policies and the impact that they have had upon the jurisdictional boundaries and autonomy of Arab local …

When Tony Blair's New Labour administration took control in 1997, it sought to establish a programme of organizational, performance, and democratic reform. Initially badged as the modernizing government programme, it was later developed in the Best Value regime for local governm…

Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) are becoming increasing relevant in policy making and governance activities. However, the broad effects of digital governance have not been adequately conceptualised; conflicting assumptions vary from rather optimistic accounts o…

This research contributes to the debate about the impacts of ICTs on the business of local government. It conceptualises the city as a site of local governance where ICTs have an impact on the social, political and economic complexities. Indeed, the starting point of this resear…

This study examines the question of whether subjective attitudes to climate change play a significant part in the determination of local authorities’ policy and actions on climate change mitigation; whether the personal views of council members and officers about climate change,…

In the last thirty years, European local authorities have played a pro-active role in the realm of sustainable development, taking part in several European initiatives and projects and setting up municipal networks. The latter, which connect cities scattered across Member States…

This research explores the role of cities in energy transitions using heat networks as a case study. Drawing on both discursive institutional and socio-technical transitions literature the interaction of discourses, ideas and institutions are analysed in relation to heat network…

This thesis examines the electoral performance of minor parties in English local government from 1973 to 2008, a period that has seen a sharp increase in the numbers of candidates from such parties. Beginning with an overall assessment of the extent to which candidates from mino…

Since 1979 the UK has experienced the most decisive break in the providing style and underlying principles of welfare provision since 1944 to 1948, or perhaps ever. This thesis provides an historical overview of the succession of Acts in regards to state education, health and ho…

This thesis explores the capacity of local government to influence intergovernmental organizations’ policy frameworks during the formulation and implementation of their instruments and policies. It provides empirical insights into the decision making and implementation of intern…

This study assesses the extent to which employees and users of public services can develop collaborative partnerships that promote person-centred services within institutions. Both citizen and worker participation are currently advocated as a means to develop public services, ye…

Globalisation has been a dominant theme in much social science text over the last two decades. According to this literature, although one of the most significant changes in the world economy has been a dramatic increase in the mobility of capital, globalisation is not a purely e…

My dissertation explores how a new relationship between the state and society was formed in twelfth-fourteenth century China. Taking Mingzhou, modern Ningbo city, Zhejiang Province, as my case study, I challenge the assumption on which many interpretations of this period are bas…

Literature on democracy frequently found that there is a strong relationship between decentralized government and democracy. Increased in political participation, government transparency, government responsiveness, and the dynamic in regional politics were found to take place as…