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This accessible book is about local democracy, civic engagement, political participation and community in Britain. It rejects the many pessimistic accounts that seek to dominate our political discourse with their talk of political apathy, community breakdown and selfish individualism
The book focuses on local democratic politics in Britain over the last decade and a half, from the election of the New Labour government right up to the current Conservative/Liberal Democrat coalition government. It includes an analysis of local democracy, civic engagement and participation across a range of policy areas and in the context of debates around accountability, legitimacy, sustainability, localism and the 'big society'.
Drawing on a wide range of examples, it argues that local democracy is a vibrant terrain of innovation, civic engagement and participation, and dynamic community activity, with a wide variety of informal and formal activity taking place.
Introduction
1 The theoretical context
2 Civic engagement and political participation: debates and evidence
3 The challenge of local democracy, civic engagement and community: an agenda for change
4 Local democracy at the formal level
5 Opening up local democracy beyond the formal realm
6 Local services, community and civic engagement
7 Regeneration and sustainability
Conclusion
Bibliography
Index