The Consequences of Localism and Centralism

This chapter is concerned with the effects of different patterns of centralism and localism. It describes the types of administrative and political behaviour which can be affected by different forms of centralism and localism. It also explores how different forms of leadership implied by shaping policy as head of a large local welfare bureaucracy on the one hand and manipulating non-local political and administrative structures on the other might affect the nature of local government more widely.