Abstract
The first part of this chapter discusses the concept of local institutional capacity. Local institutional capacity generally refers to the ability or power of localities to shape or create a successful future for themselves, and to adapt to the increasing rate of change in markets and in government policy regimes. It therefore relates closely to discussions of the relative competitiveness of localities in an increasingly internationalized economy, where competitiveness is seen to be related to the economic, environmental and locational attributes of places and to their political and administrative capacity to compete. In the second part of the chapter we chart the evolution of local capacity in Bristol, looking particularly at recent attempts to create/enhance institutional capacity through the development of partnership, collaboration and consensus building, efforts made necessary by the diminution of old powers and competencies in local government, the uncertain future of some key local economic sectors and policy innovation by central government.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
A. Amin and N. Thrift, Globalization, Institutions and Regional Development in Europe (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1994).
K. Bassett, ‘Partnerships, business elites and urban politics: new forms of governance in an English city?’, Urban Studies, 33 (1996) 539–55
M. Boddy, J. Lovering and K. Bassett, Sunbelt City: A Study of Economic Change in Britain’s Growth Corridor (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1986).
P. Cheshire and I. Gordon, ‘Territorial competition and the predictability of collective (in)action’, International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, 20.3 (1996) 383–99.
R. Clements, Local Notables and the City Council (London: Macmillan, 1969).
A. DiGaetano, Ship Shape and Bristol Fashion: Regime Formation in Bristol 1970–1995 (unpublished paper) (1996).
A. DiGaetano and J. Klemanski, ‘Urban regimes in comparative perspective; the politics of urban development in Bristol’, Urban Affairs Quarterly, 29 (1993) 54–83.
S. Fainstein, ‘The changing world economy and urban restructuring’, in D. Judd and M. Parkinson, Leadership and Urban Regeneration (London:Sage, 1990).
A. Harding, ‘Growth machines — UK style’, Environment and Planning C, 9 (1991) 295–316.
D. Judd and M. Parkinson, Leadership and Urban Regeneration (London: Sage, 1990).
C. Lambert and N. Oatley, ‘Evaluating competitive urban policy: the City Challenge Initiative’, in R. Hambleton and H. Thomas (eds), Urban Policy Evaluation: Challenge and Change (London: Paul Chapman, 1995).
J. Lovering and N. Thrift, ‘Bristol: a city which has reached the end of the old road?’, in B. Blanke and R. Smith (eds), The Future of the Medium-Sized City in Britain and Germany (London: Anglo-German Foundation, 1993).
M. Mayer, ‘Post-Fordist city politics’, in A. Amin (ed.), Post-Fordism: A Reader (Oxford: Blackwell, 1994).
J. Peck and A. Tickell, ‘Searching for a new institutional fix: the after-Fordist crisis and global–local disorder’, in A. Amin (ed.), Post-Fordism: A Reader (Oxford: Blackwell, 1994).
D. Snape and M. Stewart, Keeping Up the Momentum: Partnership Working in Bristol and the West (unpublished paper) (1995).
M. Stewart, Urban Policy in Thatcher’s England, Working Paper 90 (Bristol: School for Advanced Urban Studies, University of Bristol, 1990).
M. Stewart, ‘Competition and competitiveness in urban policy’, Public Money and Management, July-September (1996) 21–6.
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Copyright information
© 1999 Palgrave Macmillan, a division of Macmillan Publishers Limited
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Oatley, N., Lambert, C. (1999). Local Capacity in Bristol — Tentative Steps towards Institutional Thickness. In: Blanke, B., Smith, R. (eds) Cities in Transition. Anglo-German Foundation for The Study of Industrial Society. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780333982273_13
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/9780333982273_13
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London
Print ISBN: 978-0-333-74661-5
Online ISBN: 978-0-333-98227-3
eBook Packages: Palgrave Social & Cultural Studies CollectionSocial Sciences (R0)