Power, responsibility, and governance in Britain's new urban policy

Competition became a major feature of urban policy in Britain during the 1990s. The stimulus of competition was intended to improve regeneration policies, partly by galvanizing the collective resources of local actors. This article draws upon the findings of recent empirical studies of regeneration programs and partnerships to consider the implications of competitive urban policy for the theory and practice of governance. It is argued that promoting partnerships ar,tong local institutions and improving the quality of regeneration schemes through competition require positive support from central government. The responsibility for tackling difficult urban problems cannot simply be devolved to under-funded local initiatives.