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Local government advocacy in the 'suburban age': an institutionalist interpretation of Melbourne's evolving sub-metropolitan regional structures.
- Source :
- Local Government Studies; Feb2020, Vol. 46 Issue 1, p116-138, 23p
- Publication Year :
- 2020
-
Abstract
- The 'suburban age' has been conceptualised as the dominant global urban spatial reality for the 21<superscript>st</superscript> Century, yet the politics associated with this heightened expansiveness remain underdeveloped. Of relevance is the potential for suburban discontentment across a myriad of spaces centred upon the under provision of infrastructure and employment. With urban regions often highly fragmented by local government boundaries, bottom-up inter-local government responses assume significance, including sub-regional advocacy given enduring hierarchical government dependencies. In consideration of the evolving strength of sub-regional advocacy, three institutionalist themes are introduced: credibility, coherency and coordination. Empirical insights are presented from chief executive officer (CEO)-based interviews conducted across expansive Melbourne, Australia. In Melbourne, a 'weak mayor/strong CEO' local government system predominates beneath a state government with extensive metropolitan responsibilities. Melbourne's sub-metropolitan regional structures have recently looked to strengthen their external presence through actions illustrative of the identified themes, with local government CEOs playing a key role in directing their evolving character. The global 'suburban age' must be associated with heightened sub-regional competition across enlarged urban regions, the management of which will present a growing spatial challenge for political leaders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 03003930
- Volume :
- 46
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Local Government Studies
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 141395656
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1080/03003930.2019.1619556