The Political Executive: Politicians and Management in European Local Government

First Published in 1992. This volume, based on a special issue of the journal Local Government Studies, takes up a leading issue of the structure and role of the political executive in the context of the inaugurated British Government (1987-92). It does so by reference to examples from Norway, Sweden, Germany, and Italy as the countries selected for this volume all, to some degree, share with Britain a more collective style of political leadership. This is indispensable reading for all those wishing to gain a more balanced understanding of the contemporary role of Parliaments in Western Europe.

Richard Batley is a Reader in Development Administration at the School of Public Policy, University of Birmingham. He has conducted research and consultancies on the policies and administration of urban policy in several Latin American, Asian and African countries as well as in Britain. Adrian Campbell is a lecturer in the Institute of Local Government Studies, University of Birmingham. He has conducted research into local government, provided consultancy services to companies, institutes, and a wide range of local authorities, and has spoken at conferences in Europe and the UK.