The Politics of Urban Governance

Written in a lively and succinct style, its diversely referenced arguments will open up a broad field for its readers.' - Hal Pawson, Housing Studies 'For Jon Pierre, the city is no fixed object but a mix of governance and gaps in governance, and of institutional arrangements in tension with one another within an ongoing process of change. Unrivalled in its skilful handling of multiple concepts, this important new text proves him the master juggler in the study of city politics.' - Clarence Stone, George Washington University, US 'This is an incisive and much-needed analysis of contemporary urban politics and governance. Synthesizing research from around the world, Jon Pierre shows why urban politics matters more than ever in today's context of globalized networks.' - Patrick Le Gales, Centre for European Studies

This broad-ranging new text analyses the shape of urban politics and governance in the 21st century. The author identifies 4 main 'models' of urban governance - 'management', 'corporatist'. 'pro-growth' and 'welfare' - and assesses their different implications for the major issues, interests and problems in the contemporary urban arena.The study of urban governance provides a valuable insight into economic, social, and political forces and how they shape city life. But who and what are the real drivers of change? This innovative text casts new light on the issues and re-examines the state of urban governance at the start of the twenty-first century. Jon Pierre analyses four models of urban governance: 'management', 'corporatist', 'pro-growth' and 'welfare'. Each is assessed in terms of its implications for the major issues, interests and challenges in the contemporary urban arena. Distinctively, Pierre argues that institutions – and the values which underpin them – are the driving forces of change. The book also assesses the impact of globalization upon urban governance. The long-standing debate on the decline of urban governance is re-examined and reformulated by Pierre, who applies a wider international approach to the issues. He argues that the changing cast of private and public actors, combined with new forms of political participation, have resulted in a transformation – rather than a decline – of contemporary urban governance.