A Discursive Perspective on British Local Government's Response to Change: A Tale of Two Cities

Abstract

This article discusses how two different British authorities, both intent on empowering local residents in their capacity as citizens, have gone about defending the political dimension to local government—while at the same time complying with central government's reform agenda. It is my contention that the discourse developed at the local level as part of the response to the centrally conceived reforms gives valuable insight into the nature of the power struggle between central and local government, that it is indeed part and parcel of the power struggle.