Directly elected mayors: A route to progressive urban leadership?

Hambleton, Robin

Abstract

This chapter explores whether the directly elected mayor model of governance can contribute to progressive policy making, meaning actively implementing policies and practices designed to move away from exploitation of people and the planet. A conceptual framework designed to enhance understanding of the power of place and the nature of place-based leadership is presented. This is then used to assess the performance of the directly elected mayor model. Three inspirational examples of mayoral leadership are examined: 1) metropolitan leadership in Greater London, UK (in the period 2000-08); 2) city leadership in Portland, Oregon, USA; and city leadership in Freiburg, Germany. These cameos cover experiences in three countries at three very different scales. Three themes are explored in a closing discussion: 1) the role of mayors in expanding place-based power; 2) connecting the different realms of place-based leadership within a locality; and 3) bringing progressive values back into city politics.

• Publication Date: Mar 15, 2017
• Peer Reviewed: Not Peer Reviewed
• Pages: 243-263
• Book Title: Directly Elected Mayors in Urban Governance: Impact and Practice
• ISBN: 9781447327011
• Keywords: urban governance, directly elected mayors, civic leadership, urban politics
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/896806
• Publisher URL: http://policypress.co.uk/directly-elected-mayors-in-urban-governance