Political Leadership in a Global Age

Jean-Pascal Daloz is a senior Centre Nationale de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) research fellow at the Bordeaux Institute for Political Studies (CERVL) and associate professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Oslo. HARALD BALDERSHEIM is Professor of Political Science at the University of Oslo, Norway. He has published extensively on leadership and innovation in local and regional government. He has co-ordinated large-scale research programmes on processes of democratization in post-communist Europe and has also studied the spread of new communication technologies in Third World countries. He served as the chairperson of the standing research committee on local government in the International Association of Political Science.

• Introduction: Comparing France and Norway : why? how? towards a contextual analysis, Harald Baldersheim and Jean-Pascal Daloz; Reflections on the comparative study of political leadership, Jean-Pascal Daloz. A Changing International Environment: The globalization debate in France: the attitudes of political leaders, Sébastien Ségas; The Norwegian globalization debate, Øyvind Østerud. National Cleavages and Political Parties: French political parties and cleavages: why is there no Christian democratic party?, Emmanuelle Vignaux; Political parties in Norway - national institutions, locally anchored, Knut Heidar; The one and indivisible republic? The constitutional debate on Corsican autonomy, Raino Malnes. Roots and Regions: French regional leadership and economic strategies in a globalizing world, Michel-Alexis Montané; Norwegian regions as development agents - county councils on the defensive, Harald Baldersheim; Interest group leadership and territory: the case of Bordeaux wine producers, Andy Smith. Local Democracy and Management: Proximity and social cohesion in French local democracy: answers to the increase in abstention and political disaffection?, Laurence Bherer; Local political participation in Norway: does globalization make a difference?, Lawrence E. Rose; 'Management' and urban political leaders in France, Stéphane Cadiou; Is local democracy under pressure from new public management? Evidence from Norway, Morten ØgÃ¥rd. Conclusions: France - return of the Girondins? Norway - rise of the Jacobins?, Harald Baldersheim and Jean-Pascal Daloz. Epilogue: Towards a local-global leadership? A research agenda, Claude Sorbets.

'This book provides an excellent overview of leadership studies and a fascinating comparison of two European countries, both of which usually take pride in being called 'exceptional' or 'unique'. The argument, that globalisation has created new opportunities for leadership but that leadership responses are context-bound, is highly thought-provoking and is explored in a series of high-quality chapters written by experts in the area.' Professor Robert Elgie, Dublin City University, Ireland 'Put together and edited by two eminent scholars and experts on France and Norway, the book provides valuable insights to anybody interested in the impact which the forces of globalization and internationalization have on local government, governance and leadership as well as on the welfare state at large. The fascination (and novelty) of the book lie in the very selection of two countries which, at first sight, seem quite remote and different on many scores, but which, at closer inspection, reveal striking commonalities.' Professor Hellmut Wollmann, Humboldt-University, Germany 'This is a fascinating study of the impact of globalisation on two developed countries in Europe and the responses demanded of the political leadership at various levels of authority, local or municipal, national and regional.' USI Journal