Publisher's Synopsis
Although the relationship between elected officials and appointed executives has often been viewed as a struggle between master and servant - with disagreements as to which individuals occupy which role - this volume presents a comparison of city governments in 14 countries which reveals more interdependence and shared influence than conflict over control. The authors bring local government to the forefront, emphasizing the sophisticated level of city management in Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Their findings lead to a revision of the general view concerning the boundaries of public administration. The work illustrates in practical ways how democratic control of governmment and professional administration can coexist without undermining the logic or integrity of each other.
