Abstract
The relationship between local and central government in the United Kingdom over the last 50 years has been typified by an odd mixture of conflict and consensus. Throughout this book we seek to understand this tortured affair through the theory developed around policy narratives. In this chapter we outline the basic concepts underlying this approach. We then consider how one might recognise a policy narrative and how they impact on us by shaping our thoughts and conduct. We give examples of the policy narratives used in this book, and we conclude that these are powerful and persistent explanatory factors which not only constitute a substantial collective memory of the past but also influence the thinking and actions of politicians in the present and into the future.
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Copus, C., Roberts, M., Wall, R. (2017). Policy Narratives in Local and National Government. In: Local Government in England . Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-26418-3_2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-26418-3_2
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