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Local Autonomy, Local Democracy and the ‘New Localism’

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  • Lawrence Pratchett

Abstract

Most studies of local autonomy and local democracy fail to distinguish adequately between the two terms. As a consequence, there is an assumed bilateral relationship between them in which changes in one are always deemed to affect the other – particularly in policy formulations. This article develops a stronger analytical distinction between them by considering local autonomy in three separate ways: as freedom from central interference; as freedom to effect particular outcomes; and as the reflection of local identity. Each of these conceptualisations raises different challenges for local democracy and its relationship to broader forms of democratic practice. When used to analyse the recent emergence of the ‘new localism’ as a policy approach within Britain, this separation also shows significant limitations in current policies towards democratic renewal and central policies that are supposedly focused on outcomes rather than processes. Although localities are being afforded some autonomy, most initiatives are not supporting the enhancement of local democracy.

Suggested Citation

  • Lawrence Pratchett, 2004. "Local Autonomy, Local Democracy and the ‘New Localism’," Political Studies, Political Studies Association, vol. 52(2), pages 358-375, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:polstu:v:52:y:2004:i:2:p:358-375
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-9248.2004.00484.x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Gurr, Ted Robert & King, Desmond, 1987. "The State and the City," University of Chicago Press Economics Books, University of Chicago Press, edition 1, number 9780226310909, September.
    2. Michael Saward, 2003. "Enacting Democracy," Political Studies, Political Studies Association, vol. 51(1), pages 161-179, March.
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    Cited by:

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    3. Harriet Bulkeley & Andrés Luque-Ayala & Colin McFarlane & Gordon MacLeod, 2018. "Enhancing urban autonomy: Towards a new political project for cities," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 55(4), pages 702-719, March.
    4. Alibegović Dubravka Jurlina & Hodžić Sabina & Bečić Emira, 2019. "The Level of Fiscal Autonomy: Evidence from Croatia, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina," NISPAcee Journal of Public Administration and Policy, Sciendo, vol. 12(1), pages 91-112, June.
    5. Wendy Godek, 2021. "Food sovereignty policies and the quest to democratize food system governance in Nicaragua," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 38(1), pages 91-105, February.
    6. Jung, Hoyong, 2022. "Voter Turnout Effects on Local Public Finance and Legislation: Evidence from South Korea," Hitotsubashi Journal of Economics, Hitotsubashi University, vol. 63(1), pages 1-23, June.
    7. Jin Lee, 2021. "New Localism in the Neoliberal Era: Local District Response to Voluntary Open-School Markets in Ohio," SAGE Open, , vol. 11(2), pages 21582440211, June.
    8. Fiseha Assefa, 2020. "Local Level Decentralization in Ethiopia: Case Study of Tigray Regional State," The Law and Development Review, De Gruyter, vol. 13(1), pages 95-126, January.
    9. John Sturzaker & Michael Gordon, 2017. "Democratic tensions in decentralised planning – Rhetoric, legislation and reality in England," Environment and Planning C, , vol. 35(7), pages 1324-1339, November.
    10. Kimiora Raerino & Alex Macmillan & Adrian Field & Rau Hoskins, 2021. "Local-Indigenous Autonomy and Community Streetscape Enhancement: Learnings from Māori and Te Ara Mua—Future Streets Project," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(3), pages 1-17, January.

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