Alistair Cole is Professorial Research Fellow at Cardiff University. His many publications include Franco German Relations, French Politics and Society, and Francois Mitterand: A study in political leadership.Peter John is Anniversary Reader in Politics, Birkbeck College, University of London. He chaired the Political Studies Association Research Sub-Committee, 1999-2000, and worked closely with the Economic and Social Research Council as an adviser. He is the author of Analysing Public Policy.

• 1. The Age of Governance2. Local Politics and Policy-making in England3. Local Politics and Policy-making in France4. The Governance of Local Economic Development in England and France5. The Governance of Education in England and France6. Governing British Cities7. Governing French Cities8. Local Governance in England and France

'...this is a book that provides sufficient comparative insights and would be a good addition to teaching and research libraries.' - Urban Studies, Mike Raco, University of Reading.'...this book is already a 'classic' comparative book in the field of local government/local governance in Europe. It has no equivalent in Europe. It is the most rigorous and carefully designed comparative research in the field of local government published for quite a long time. It is essential reading for comparative government courses, a useful tool with the extensive bibliography and the depth of the research makes it also crucial for postgraduate and advanced researchers.' - Patrick Le Galés, CEVIPOF-CNRS/Sciences Po Paris, West European Politics.