Hello Elena,

We have been doing some work on localism in particular at the levels of political economy and political philosophy and its applicability to Australia.

My general argument about localism is that, yes, there are a range of reasons from within different strands of political theory and political economy that support localism, as as such it is interesting to see these different political traditions gather around the idea.

However, is localism the genuine empowerment of of communities, or is it the offloading of governmental responsibilites (welfare provision, for example) onto the local sphere? The leading UK local government academic, Gerry Stoker, has recently revisited his support for localism, or 'Networked Community Governance' and seems to suggest that he has some reservations about localism with the benefit of himdsight (see our artile on this << http://www.une.edu.au/clg/working-papers/wp-02-2011.pdf >>).

Further, to what extent does localism, as a state-sponsored ideology (see, for example, the Department of Communities and Local Government in the UK << http://www.communities.gov.uk/corporate/about/ >>) mitigate, rather than encourage democracy?

Big questions for little politics...

Our most recent article in terms of political philosophy is Grant, B. and Dollery, B.E. (2011). 'Political Geography as Public Policy? Place-shaping as a Mode of Local Government Reform', in Ethics, Policy and Environment, 14(2): 193-209 << http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/21550085.2011.578381 >>.

With respect to implications for Australia, see Dollery, B.E., Grant, B. and O'Keefe, S. (2007). 'The Lyons Report and its Implications for Australian Local Government', Centre for Local Government Working Papers 12-2007 << http://www.une.edu.au/clg/working-papers/12-2007.pdf >>.

On localism and the scrapping of Part 3A of the Planning Act in NSW by the O'Farrell Government, see the article in SMH << http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/communities-able-to-shape-themselves-20110523-1f0jo.html >>.

Due to your interest in the U.S., see our paper on 'Home Rule' and implications for Australian local government << http://www.une.edu.au/clg/working-papers/01-2011.pdf >>.

But I think you're right: Stay tuned on localism in Australia: There's more to come, in particular with respect to the prospect of local government de-amalgamation in Queensland following the next state election.

Regards,

Elena, thank you, an interesting article.

You will no doubt be aware the “Localism Bill” has recently been introduced in the UK. Sadly I can report that its first application has been to limit public opposition to a number of wind farm development applications, most notably the Peel Energy application at Frodsham in Cheshire.

In particular it is being used to “override” local governments’ ability to apply the PPS 22 Planning Advisory document, particularly in relationship to those documents false claims which would otherwise invalidate the planning application.

Is it any wonder that public trust in politics is in such decline?

So what made these novices think that they know more than authority. Maybe just a mission of not in my back yard.