Synopses & Reviews
Cities play a growing role in governing. This new role fits within a context that nation-states, global market forces and cities themselves continue to define. The analysis of this book focuses on how local efforts in the distinct European systems of France and Germany as well as American counterparts have provided for environmental quality and social inclusion alongside local economic development. Only in certain European settings has policy making at multiple levels accomplished all three objectives at once. In those settings, effective governance from below has relied on adequate support from higher levels of governments and a favorable position in the global economy.
Review
"Richly detailed, reflecting years of work in three languages and a deft flexiblity in qualitative and quantitative research methods..." Political Science Quarterly"Sellers demonstrates that in many urban areas the political process is effective... With abundant evidence from choices on growth promotion, environment quality, and social equity, he shows that local regimes and officials play critical roles within the national infrastructures... A competent study recommended for advanced students of comparative public policy. Upper-division undergraduates and above." Choice"Jefferey Sellers innovates repeatedly...He contributes to urban politics, public policy, comparative politics, political parties, legal studies, and planning, and most of all, shows how these are not separate but interrelated parts of the same whole...To do fieldwork in three languages and nine cities, assemble masses of information (maybe 10 times as much as in most similar monographs), integrate it smoothly, and present it as a coherent, readable account is most unusual. Sellers does more: He presents a framed perspective, summarized in multiple tables and charts, to contextualize cities and clarify their sociopolitical dynamics. Read Governing from Below closely...Much is here." Perspectives on Politics
Synopsis
Cities play a growing role in governing. This role fits within a context that nation-states, global market forces and cities define. The book's analysis focuses on how local efforts in the European systems of France and Germany, as well as American counterparts, have provided for environmental quality and social inclusion.