Msengana-Ndlela, Lindiwe (2012) Urban governance, leadership and local economic development : a comparative case study of Leeds in England and Johannesburg in South Africa. PhD thesis, University of Warwick.

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Abstract

Advocates of local economic development (LED) in cities confront the problem of exclusionary socio-economic outcomes, despite the purported pro-poor objectives of many local authority leaders. Most studies engage with aspects of this problem in a fragmented manner. This study examines exclusionary outcomes systematically by integrating the themes of urban governance, leadership and LED; and by applying Stone’s (1989) urban regime theory (URT) and Heifetz’s (1994) adaptive leadership theory (ALT).
The study employs a cross-national comparative case study design, by comparing and contrasting LED approaches in the urban regimes of Leeds in England and Johannesburg in South Africa. It uses primarily a qualitative research strategy, complemented by the interpretation of quantitative data. Empirical evidence was collected during primary research activities undertaken from 2008 to 2011 using document analysis, semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions and non-participant observations. Thematic analysis was applied to the data and the NVivo software package was used to verify the analysis of interview data.
The thesis argues that governance processes in pro-growth urban regimes are neither sufficiently networked nor adaptive enough to achieve pro-poor LED outcomes. These failures can be explained in part by the power of private business interests and structural barriers that tend to perpetuate income inequality and unemployment, undermining both equitable regime governance and adaptivity towards pro-poor objectives. Drawing from the perspectives of URT and ALT, the thesis highlights four inter-related factors which are central to a better understanding of LED approaches and leadership processes in urban regimes: (i) context, (ii) capacity, (iii) consequences, and (iv) collaboration dynamics and power. It concludes by identifying lessons for theory and policy practice, together with proposals on how determined leaders could begin to confront the intractable challenges of socio-economic exclusion in cities.

Item Type:	Thesis or Dissertation (PhD)
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HC Economic History and Conditions J Political Science > JS Local government Municipal government
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Economic development, Leeds (England) -- Case studies, Johannesburg (South Africa) -- Case studies, Municipal government, Urban poor
Official Date:	April 2012
Dates:	Date Event April 2012 Submitted
Institution:	University of Warwick
Theses Department:	Warwick Business School
Thesis Type:	PhD
Publication Status:	Unpublished
Supervisor(s)/Advisor:	Hartley, Jean, 1953- ; Benington, John ; Davies, Jonathan S.
Sponsors:	W.K. Kellogg Foundation
Extent:	xxi, 402 leaves : ill., maps
Language:	eng

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