The New Governance of the English Regions

English regions appeared to have been killed off by the massive 'no' vote in the referendum in the North East on 4 November 2004. By contrast, this book analyzes the many institutions and networks established at the English regional tier since 1997. It argues that a new form of governance is developing in the English regions, characterized by processes rather than specific policy concerns: strategic co-ordination, scrutiny, and civic engagement.

'Mark Sandford has written the first book-length study of the new governing institutions that have been quietly spreading through the English regions. Despite the defeat of the proposal for an elected North-East Assembly, these institutions will continue to grow and affect the lives of everyone who lives in the regions of England. It is time they got to know their new masters.' - Iain McLean, Professor of Politics, Oxford University, UK

'An excellent account of the dense networks which comprise England's growing system of regional governance. Mark Sandford expertly guides us through the new structures, drawing on five years' accumulated research, and makes an important contribution to the literature.' - Professor Robert Hazell, Director, The Constitution Unit, University College London, UK

'This is a thoughtful and thought-provoking book. It succeeds both in confirming the importance of the new structures of regional governance in England and in questioning the extent to which the dominant focus of political debate on the creation of elected assemblies has helped to mask the significance of the new politics that are emerging in practice.' - Allan Cochrane, Local Government Studies

'...Sandford's presentation of the evidence is both fair and free from bias...This book will be of interest to academics and practitioners, at all governance levels, with an interest in territorial politics'. - Sarah Ayres, Public Administration

Autorentext
MARK SANDFORD is a Research Fellow at the Constitution Unit at University College, London, UK. He has led a number of projects analyzing the Labour Government's proposals for elected regional assemblies in England, and has also written several articles and book chapters on regional identity, processes of scrutiny, and strategic government.

Inhalt
Foreword The Death and Life of English Regions The Roots of the English Regions Institutional Developments in the English Regions The Rise of Governance in the English Regions New Labour and Regionalisation: Chalk and Cheese or Slow New Dawn? Devolution is a Process Not a Policy: The Three Pillars of English Regional Governance Strategic Government: Hidden Hand or Talking Shop? Regional Scrutiny: Accountability in Network Governance Civic Engagement in the English Regions The Ninth, or First, English Version? New Governance and Democratic Politics in London Conclusion: Network Governance and the Westminster State Appendix Notes Bibliiography Index