Mayors in Vertical Power Relations
From a constitutional point of view, cities are local governments. Some of them may proudly look back on a past as autonomous states. During the construction of the nation states in the 18th and 19th century, European cities were squeezed into the corset of national intergovernmental frameworks. No matter how glorious their past forgone, European cities henceforth occupy a subordinate position within national state polities. Their autonomy is limited by upper levels of government, such as regions, federate states, and the central state. Of course, the nature and the extent of these limitations differ across space and time, resulting in a great variation of patterns of constraints to which city governments have to comply, as well as of structures of opportunities through which they can expand their freedom to act.
From Princeps to President? Comparing Local Political Leadership Transformation
Abstract Using conceptual dimensions identified by the literature on political leadership, this article compares its transformations at the local level in Europe. Often associated with the alleged shift to governance, the strengthening of the executive comes forward as the underlying tendency in contemporary local leadership. Empowered individualised leadership emerges, in terms of coming to and taking office, challenging traditional notions of tasks, style and conditions of local leadership. Such a tendency does not imply the apparent Americanisation of political leadership however, as the articles in this collection show, rather a path dependent European route has emerged.
Theorising heterosexuality : telling it straight
Heterosexuality and social theory heterosexuality and feminist theory heterosexuality and domestic life heterosexuality and social policy heterosexuality and the desire for gender recognition and heterosexual desire heterosexuality and masculinity - theorizing male power or the male wounded psyche? which one's the man? - the heterosexualization of lesbian sex in the same boat? - the gendered (in)exeperience of first hetero-sex collusion, collaboration and confession - on moving beyond the heterosexuality debate.