Book review - Cities and Communities beyond COVID-19: How local leadership can change our future for the better by Robin Hambleton (2020)

Decentralisation, unravelling local bureaucracy and citizen participation are not new ideas in urban governance (see, for example, Beebeejaun, 2016). Yet, Cities and Communities Beyond COVID-19, the latest book from Robin Hambleton, Emeritus Professor of City Leadership at the University of the West of England, Bristol, UK, brings new life into the localism debate. The book is part of a series of short publications relating to COVID-19 published by Bristol University Press. In it, Hambleton, a well-known expert in urban governance, argues for alternative ways to move forward in the post-pandemic world. His book calls for increased cross-sectoral partnership in local governance, making it a relevant read for those interested in civil society and the voluntary sector.