New forms of local accountability: Coming to terms with 'many hands'?

Helen Sullivan*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

50 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The transformation of many western liberal democracies in the late 20th century has had important implications for the practice of public accountability, compounding the problem of 'many hands'. This article considers developments in academic debate and discusses how traditional modes of vertical accountability can be augmented by new horizontal mechanisms. New Labour's approach to local 'modernisation' in England is examined, including, but going beyond, local government, to consider new institutions that seek to 'join up' local action. The article concludes that to manage the problem of 'many hands' requires specific intervention from local government in its community leadership role.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)353-369
Number of pages17
JournalPolicy and Politics
Volume31
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jul 2003
Externally publishedYes

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