Sneak peek at the agenda 👀
The PSA’s Local Politics and Governance specialist group's devolution workshop.
📅 24 Nov – featuring:
🗣️ Prof Tony Travers (LSE) on fiscal devolution
🗣️ Prof Donna Hall CBE on local leadership
Join the discussion – hybrid format, register here: www.psa.ac.uk/specialist-g...
05.11.2025 09:07
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Navigating Changing Economies and Rural Policy: LeftBehind Places or Left Behind People?
Joanie Willett
University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
ABSTRACTPlace-based studies of regional policy ask how places can better adapt to economic and social changes. This is especially prescientfor research and policy supporting ‘left-behind’ regions. This paper amends this question, asking not how placesadapt, but how thepeople living and working within them navigate change. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork in Cornwall in the United Kingdomand the Southwest of Virginia, USA, the paper uses the complex adaptive region assemblage to explore how locals make sense oftheir changing region and the opportunities that they imagine are available. The paper argues that regional policy needs to reflectthat supportive communities are crucial for individuals as they try to navigate changes to their local economies but that currentlymany community supports are unable to connect people to assemblages where new opportunities exist. Inadequate understandingof peoples lives can lead to ineffective policy-making with lasting implications.
New from Joanie Willett
Navigating Changing Economies and Rural Policy: Left Behind Places or Left Behind People
"Current scholarship focusses on the infrastructures,organisations and economies in a space but risks overlooking theimportance of understanding the lives of the people that live there"
26.09.2025 08:49
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Pride in Place
Documents and guidance relating to the government’s Pride in Place Strategy, which will help build stronger communities, create thriving places and empower local people.
The Pride in Place Strategy was published yesterday (despite being immediately burried by ID cards news!)
In many ways its levelling up continuity, but it also contains a blueprint for neighbourhood governance that could soon be rolled out nationally. A space to watch.
www.gov.uk/government/c...
26.09.2025 08:37
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Stronger devo can solve the London problem
Before Labour entered Downing Street in July last year, the Conservatives had a fractious relationship with London's mayor. The Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps,...
I've written in The MJ with Patrick Diamond about London devolution.
Stronger governance and more fiscal autonomy are important enablers to get London motoring, alongside more muscle to build infrastructure and homes:
www.themj.co.uk/stronger-dev...
24.09.2025 07:39
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Report Launch: The State of Intergovernmental Relations in England
The state of Intergovernmental Relations in England: towards a new era of partnership?
On Thursday, @tjarnold.bsky.social and @paulanderson88.bsky.social are launching their new report:
📘 The State of Intergovernmental Relations in England
Sign up to the launch event here (Thu 19th June, 1.30pm):
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/report-lau...
13.06.2025 06:50
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Local Politics and Governance roundtable:
A fascinating discussion about the relationship between academic research and policy-making. Speakers are focusing on the academic contribution to the English devolution agenda.
#PSA25
15.04.2025 12:43
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Jim Chandler presenting:
'Is Local Government in the UK a Redundant Term?'
Jim Chandler presenting:
'Is Local Government in the UK a Redundant Term?'
#PSA25
14.04.2025 13:26
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Phil Swann presenting:
'Politicians and central-local government relations'
@swannphil.bsky.social
#PSA25
14.04.2025 13:21
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Georgina Blakeley presenting:
Where next for city-region devolution under the Labour Government?
Georgina Blakeley presenting:
Where next for city-region devolution under the Labour Government?
#PSA25
14.04.2025 13:19
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Neil Barnett presenting on:
'The Growing Pains of Devolution in England: A Case Study of the Yorkshire and Humber region.'
Neil Barnett presenting on:
'The Growing Pains of Devolution in England: A Case Study of the Yorkshire and Humber region.'
#PSA25
14.04.2025 13:18
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Picture of bridges spanning River Tyne in Newcastle-Gateshead
En route to Birmingham for the 75th annual conference of the @polstudiesassoc.bsky.social.
I'll be presenting a paper in a @psalocalpol.bsky.social panel, based on Bethany Rex's fieldwork into how municipal museum managers negotiate austerity and pressure to generate income to continue operating.
13.04.2025 16:00
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The first PSA Local Politics & Governance panel is getting underway at #PSA2025 @polstudiesassoc.bsky.social @psalocalpol.bsky.social
🪑 @ariannagiovannini.bsky.social
📄 Neil Barnett
📄 Georgina Blakeley
📄 @swannphil.bsky.social
📄 Jim Chandler
@peckersley.bsky.social @tjarnold.bsky.social
14.04.2025 12:38
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See you in Birmingham on Monday for #PSA2025!
Check out the line-up for the Local Politics & Governance Specialist Group in the thread below
👇👇👇
11.04.2025 11:24
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🇬🇧So much looking forward to be back to the UK for @polstudiesassoc.bsky.social annual conference next week & contribute to @psalocalpol.bsky.social sessions!
✨The Local Politics & Governance Specialist Group has a fantastic line up of panels & roundtables at #PSA25 — check them out here & join us👇🏽🤓
09.04.2025 17:06
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#PSA25 Conference programme & schedule now online. Delegate Guide & conference app out soon. buff.ly/08lGWUn
08.04.2025 08:00
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And don't miss our roundtable on Tue 15th April, 1.30pm (Dhani Prem, Exchange)
@ariannagiovannini.bsky.social
@marksandford.bsky.social
Catherine Durose
@louisereardon.bsky.social
Patrick Diamond
Pete Murphy
Rebecca Riley
09.04.2025 10:36
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On Tuesday, we have our third panel: 'Actors & Networks in Local Governance'
Tue 15th, 9.30am, Dhani Prem, Exchange
🪑 Joanie Willett
📄 Karina Retamal
📄 @neilpye72.bsky.social
📄 @ariannagiovannini.bsky.social
📄 @martonbene.bsky.social
📄 @peckersley.bsky.social
09.04.2025 10:36
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Our second panel: 'Empirical Reflections on Multi-level Governance '
Mon 14th, 3.30pm, Dhani Prem, Exchange
🪑 @drjackreed.bsky.social
📄 Janice Morphet
📄 @pillmad.bsky.social
📄 Michele Zadra
📄 Junseok Kim
📄 Alice Mazeaud
09.04.2025 10:36
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Our first panel will be: 'Central-local Relations & Devolution in England'
Mon 14th, 1.30pm, Dhani Prem, Exchange
🪑 @ariannagiovannini.bsky.social
📄 Neil Barnett
📄 Georgina Blakeley
📄 @swannphil.bsky.social
📄 Jim Chandler
09.04.2025 10:36
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We're very excited about next week's Political Studies Association Conference @polstudiesassoc.bsky.social
🧵Here's a thread of the sessions run by the Local Politics & Governance Specialist Group
Hopefully see you there!
@peckersley.bsky.social @tjarnold.bsky.social
09.04.2025 10:36
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We'll be joined by an excellent panel:
@ariannagiovannini.bsky.social
@marksandford.bsky.social
Catherine Durose
@louisereardon.bsky.social
Patrick Diamond
Pete Murphy
Rebecca Riley
04.04.2025 08:39
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