In post-Iron Curtain Europe, local government will assume unparalleled importance. Within the EC, the principle of subsidiarity emphasises the local arena as the first appropriate level for decision-making while in the former communist emergent democracies, systems of local administration have to be quickly and effectively introduced to replace the discredited hierarchical centralised systems of the past.

The editor's highly-placed and successful Territory and Administration in Europe (1989) analysed and described the then current systems and was a landmark in local government studies. Obviously now, a completely new study is required and Professor Bennett has responded to this need with an entirely new framework and a distinguished group of contributors. The book blends theoretical perspectives into up-to-date and authoritative case studies to produce a comprehensive study of how local government in Europe's countries, regions, Lander, provinces, departments, communes, municipalities, cities, towns and villages works.

A particular feature of the book is concerned with restructuring and change in Eastern Europe, particularly emphasising financial questions. An essential book for students and researchers in politics, geography, government and European studies.