A governação urbana inglesa em transformação: Um paradoxo de descentralização e (re)centralização

This article addresses the changing nature of English urban governance since 1997 and the paradoxical situation that has seen the operation of simultaneous processes of decentralisation and (re)centralisation. We first of all outline how we see the concept of governance before going on to provide a brief discussion of ideas on English urban governance. We then describe the structure of English local government and the policy landscape post-1997. In the remainder of the article our focus is on changes in relation to three spatial levels: that of local government itself and the emerging levels of the neighbourhood and the city-region. We use changes at these different spatial levels to illustrate key themes that have emerged over the last decade and the nature of changes in urban governance. Finally we offer some more theoretical reflections on the changes that have taken place, and are currently taking place, in English urban governance.