Can Partnerships offer an Alternative Mode of Governance within the Contemporary Local Political Domain? An Initial Approach.

Abstract

This paper attempts to identify if partnerships between public, private and voluntary/community organisations provide an adequate mode of governance in today's local political domain. In order to do this the paper refers to the notion of governance and its current meanings as well as to different modes of governance applied to local politics. It argues that the 'Network and Policy Communities' mode is the one that matches most accurately the nature and functioning of partnerships. Based on this, it then empirically examines the existence of partnerships as governance modes in the cases of two partnership schemes (one in the UK, one in Sweden) and the implications of cultural and other differences reflected in the formation of partnerships. Following the theoretical and empirical evidence the paper argues that current policy-making procedures implemented within local orientated partnerships can be considered as features of an alternative governance mode. It recognises however existence of significant dysfunctional elements.