Local democracy, cross-border collaboration and the internationalisation of local government

Local government organisations in many countries are now involved in significant transnational cooperative initiatives. This internationalisation of local governance takes many different forms, ranging from informal cultural exchanges to attempts to influence the actions of foreign state governments. It also has important implications for the politics and the management of local government. The existing evidence suggests transnational exchange may stimulate policy innovation and new thinking, but it can also generate significant problems in terms of accountability, strategic vision, initiative management and policy effectiveness. This chapter takes a critical view of one form of transnational cooperation, cross-border collaboration, and argues that the benefits of this activity are elusive and the problems encountered are slow to be overcome.