ABSTRACT
The change in spatial scale is important, as it is 'on the ground' that the decisions of international capital and the changes in public policy are most keenly felt. Therefore, the 'local' provides a suitable scale at which to explore the impacts, and the contradictions, of the changing political economy of resource-dependent regions within developed economies. This chapter presents a review of 'what is community'. It outlines the role of local governments. This includes not just the historical context of local government structures, but the current trends and pressures forcing a rethinking of government and governance at the local level. The significant public-policy shifts from Keynesianism to Neoliberalism, and the fiscal crises of many senior governments, have created an array of challenges for local governments. The chapter focuses upon community readiness and processes of change and explores how small places can compete in the global economy.
