All Outputs (176)

How to resist the threat from the far right (2024)
Digital Artefact

This opinion article on the future of local government in the UK argues that it is essential for the newly elected Labour Government to embed firm constitutional protections for all elected local authorities in the UK in order to protect the country... Read More about How to resist the threat from the far right.

Cities and the defence of democracy (2024)
Digital Artefact

This short article outlines ways of countering the rise of the far-right in modern politics. Drawing on the experience of innovative cities and communities three strategies are outlined: 1) Celebrate the achievements of progressive movements; 2) Def... Read More about Cities and the defence of democracy.

How councils can strengthen civic engagement (2024)
Digital Artefact

Elected local authorities provide civic spaces within which public discourse can take place. Given the rise in tensions within society the role of local authorities in enabling dialogue between those holding different views has increased. Inspired... Read More about How councils can strengthen civic engagement.

Why we must reverse forty years of super-centralisation (2023)
Digital Artefact

Strengthening the power of place in modern societies is essential if we want to co-create fair and sustainable ways of living. In the UK context this means giving a really significant boost to the tax raising powers of elected local governments. Th... Read More about Why we must reverse forty years of super-centralisation.

Political leadership: When place makes a difference (2023)
Book Chapter

This chapter considers the importance of place in the modern world and explores the major power struggle that is now underway between place-less power and place-based power. Place-less power refers to the exercise of power by decision makers who are... Read More about Political leadership: When place makes a difference.

Conversation #48: The radical right threat to cities and communities (2022)
Digital Artefact

This short article examines the growing influence of right-wing parties on local politics in Europe. It suggests that the rise of the radical right is not, as some commentators have claimed, a new phenomenon. Rather, the article explains that right... Read More about Conversation #48: The radical right threat to cities and communities.

Economic growth Swedish style (2022)
Digital Artefact

This article suggests that, if the UK central government wants to bring about strong economic growth, whilst also levelling up the country, it should draw lessons from countries that have already done this. The example set out is Sweden. This count... Read More about Economic growth Swedish style.

Greg Clark should return to his old devolution diagnosis (2022)
Digital Artefact

This short Opinion article is a contribution to the so-called 'levelling up' debate in the UK. In early July 2022 the Rt Hon Greg Clark MP was appointed to the post of Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. The article remind... Read More about Greg Clark should return to his old devolution diagnosis.

EURA Conversations May 2020 - May 2022 (2022)
Book

In May 2020 the European Urban Research Association (EURA) launched a series of ‘conversations’ on the EURA website. The purpose of this initiative was to create a new space where EURA members could discuss the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cit... Read More about EURA Conversations May 2020 - May 2022.

Successful public protest (2022)
Digital Artefact

In June 2020 the toppling of the statue of Edward Colston, a prolific Bristol slave trader, attracted international headlines. This short article follows up on this remarkable event and discusses the trial, in January 2022, of the four anti-racism c... Read More about Successful public protest.

What does direct election deliver? (2022)
Digital Artefact

This short article for the Bristol Ideas website is a contribution to the public debate about whether or not to retain the directly elected mayor model of governance in our city. It explains how the direct election process has three main benefits.

The Bristol referendum 2022: Thinking through the options (2022)
Digital Artefact

This short article outlines the differences between the mayoral model of decision-making (in which citizens directly elect the city leader) and the committee system of decision-making (in which elected councillors choose who will be the leader of the... Read More about The Bristol referendum 2022: Thinking through the options.

Two scenarios for the levelling up White Paper (2021)
Newspaper / Magazine

This short article examines the UK Government's so-called 'levelling up' policy. A Government White Paper is expected in early 2022 and it is suggested that an effective policy will need to level up: 1) people, 2) places, and 3) power. Two scenario... Read More about Two scenarios for the levelling up White Paper.

Levelling up - getting beyond the rhetoric (2021)
Journal Article

This article examines the UK government's so-called 'levelling up' policy and outlines two scenarios for the future of this policy. The analysis suggests that levelling up can be characterised as a slogan in search of a policy. Despite announcing t... Read More about Levelling up - getting beyond the rhetoric.

Co-creating the tolerant city: The role of inspirational civic leadership (2021)
Book Chapter

In recent decades, the international movement of peoples to cities has accelerated, and some cities now have very high numbers of foreign-born residents. This chapter offers a contribution to current debates about the leadership and management of mu... Read More about Co-creating the tolerant city: The role of inspirational civic leadership.

Place, power and leadership: Insights from mayoral governance and leadership innovation in Bristol, UK (2021)
Journal Article

This article aims to enhance understanding of the role of place in urban leadership by examining the way leadership changed significantly following the introduction of mayoral governance into a UK city. In 2012, 10 cities in England held referendums... Read More about Place, power and leadership: Insights from mayoral governance and leadership innovation in Bristol, UK.

From smart cities to wise cities (2021)
Journal Article

Global spending on so-called 'smart cities' initiatives, already soaring upwards, was given a rocket boost by the COVID-19 pandemic. This article examines this trend and poses the question: Are smart cities delivering what we want? The meaning of s... Read More about From smart cities to wise cities.

The role of place-based leadership in post COVID-19 recovery (2021)
Presentation / Conference Contribution

This keynote speech to the Congress of Local Authorities of the Council of Europe has five parts: 1) The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic; 2) The complex challenges local leaders now face; 3) Why should towns and cities be prominent in post COVID-19... Read More about The role of place-based leadership in post COVID-19 recovery.

The role of city leadership in European recovery (2021)
Presentation / Conference Contribution

This keynote speech to the Eurocities Cities Social Summit has five parts: 1) Context: The importance of the European Pillar of Social Rights; 2) The complex challenges cities face in the post COVID-19 era; 3) Why cities matter; 4) The role of city l... Read More about The role of city leadership in European recovery.

From public leadership to civic leadership: How place-based innovation can help societies recover from COVID-19 (2021)
Presentation / Conference Contribution

Societies across the world now face at least four major challenges at once: 1) The COVID-19 health emergency; 2) A sharp economic downturn arising from the pandemic; 3) The global climate and ecological emergencies; and 4) Disturbing increases in soc... Read More about From public leadership to civic leadership: How place-based innovation can help societies recover from COVID-19.