In search of the corpse: The Mysterious Case of Local Politics

In this article we use a recent publication by Mark Gottdiener, The Decline of Urban Politics: Political Theory and the Crisis of the Local State, as the basis for a discussion of the many economic and social changes taking place within advanced capitalist societies. We argue that Gottdiener was too hasty when he identified the demise of the local political realm, and we show that alternative interpretations are possible and necessary. We draw on two sets of literature: one concerning the local state and the other exploring the current phase of economic restructuring. Although we agree that urban analysis necessitates considering state theory and economic analysis, we conclude that Gottdiener's ambitious yet desolate analysis remains unproved.