Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 1987. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 360-372).

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This thesis explores the operation of third sector politics within the changing context of local governance. Throughout the history of urban policy the concept of community has fonned a recurrent, if fluctuating theme (Eisenschitz and Gough, 1993; Raco, 1998a). Recent literature has tended to assume the emergence of a new local governance characterised by restructured local political relations. A related strand of thinking suggests that within this new context, the community role has been elevated. The recent turn to community seems to present a vision in which public participation is something of a panacea to secure successful and lasting urban regeneration and more effective local governance. The tendency within the literature has been to focus on new institutional configurations rather than the detailed operation of the new arrangements. This thesis seeks to assess in detail how the third sector is engaging in processes of local governance and the mechanisms that support this. The research focuses on the fine-grain of spatial and institutional representation of community interests and the fonn and function of community politics. It develops this focus through a specific concern with the operation of community politics and the constitution of governance roles through two in-depth case studies conducted in the North-East. These provide contrasting examples of third sector organisation and coordination, thus highlighting the locally distinctive nature of third sector politics. The thesis concludes that attempts at specifying changing local governance and models of community engagement have tended to ignore the complexity of community politics. Therefore, it is argued that future theoretical developments need to address these complexities in order to capture any change in the fonn and nature of local political relations in general and third sector politics in particular.

Thesis (M. of Arch.)--College of Architecture, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2000. Directed by Randy Roark. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves [110]-[111]).

<p> The focus of this study is the impact of Ontario's regional government schemes on the small town of Pelham where the writer lived as a participant-observer for two years. The argument is made that, while some benefits have been achieved in the provision of certain services, regional government is more of a failure than a success. Pelhamites have found that the new local and regional governments are quite antithetical to what they knew and valued in local politics. Consequently, as a group, these citizens are more antagonistic to their government than they remembered having been prior to the structural reform. This antagonism is felt more intensely among the traditionalists living in the rural areas than among the newly arrived village commuters. The departure from the past is symbolized by planning, a policy framework significantly different from the political style of the old councils. The conflict between local citizens and the new organizations is best illustrated by two public decisions, the implementation of land planning and the closure of schools. These two policies are examined in detail to point out the difficulties that have arisen because of provincial efforts to reform local government institutions without taking into account community values. It is apparent that Pelhamites are not satisfied that the new governments are concerned about their town nor are they confident of their own ability to influence major policy outcomes. The most damaging impact is that it is widely accepted in the town that provincial authorities have not created new communities as promised but have destroyed what community had existed for the people of Pelham.</p> / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Esse trabalho apresenta a relação estabelecida entre os atores sociais envolvidos no campo da saúde em Porto Alegre, ao longo das décadas de oitenta e noventa. O estudo focou, especificamente, a relação entre (a) lideranças do movimento popular e dos usuários do Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) das regiões Glória Cruzeiro e Cristal (b) profissionais e trabalhadores em saúde da área de planejamento da gerência distrital Glória/Cruzeiro/Cristal (GD5) e (c) gestores públicos municipais. Procurou-se verificar quais os fatores que determinaram a ação governamental nas regiões que compõem a GD5, a partir da (a) organização popular e participação, (b) existência de uma policy community reformista regional na área da saúde e (c) sensibilidade e resposta política dos gestores municipais. Para isso realizou-se um estudo qualitativo, baseado em entrevistas e análise documental. A utilização dessa abordagem permitiu identificar a forma peculiar como os atores sociais foram constituindo estratégias de lutas, disputas, conflitos e negociações no campo da saúde que resultaram em ampliação e melhoria dos bens e serviços disponíveis nas regiões da GD5. / This work presents the relationship established between social actors in health area in Porto Alegre, during the eighties e nineties. The study focuses, specifically, the relationship between (a) popular movement's leaderships and the Sistema Único de Saude's users from the region Glória Cruzeiro e Cristal, (b) health workers of the area covered by gerência distrital Glória/Cruzeiro/ Cristal (GD5) and (c) public managers. To do that, one tried to check the possible reasons why determined the government action in the GD5, in term of(a) intensity of organization and popular participation, (b) existence o f a reformist and regional po licy community in that medical area and (c) responsiveness of public managers municipal. To do so, one accomplished a qualitative study, based on interviews and analysis of documents. This approach, made possible identified the peculiar way these agents were constructing strategies of fights, disputes, conflicts and negotiations in the medical area that end up widening and improving the health services available in the regions of GDS.

The central question posed in this thesis is why has the Queensland model of workers' compensation been so enduring? The legislation remained largely intact from 1916 until 2001, with the exception of the years from 1996 to 1998. This was so despite the fact the central feature of a state-controlled monopoly that underpinned this model was always potentially divisive in line with the variances between liberal-conservative traditions and social-democratic ideals that subsisted in broader political culture. In addressing this question of longevity, this thesis explores the capacity of an initially contentious piece of legislation to draw strong support from former opponents, and the argument is put forward that it is best explained through the development and operation of a policy community that fostered a shared set of core values relative to broad workers' compensation policy preferences. These core values were compulsory state monopoly, no fault insurance and full access to common law. Thus, the longevity of the legislation is attributed to the continued support by key stakeholders of these core values. The thesis also demonstrates that policy community relations deteriorated during the 1990s as governments responded to broader political pressures precipitated by reform agendas. Inconsistencies in core values and policy outcomes for each stakeholder emerged as governments attempted to assert unprecedented control over the direction of workers' compensation in order to meet broader political goals. The legislation was threatened as relations within the policy community proved unsustainable when existing core values were contested.

Four different case management programs delivered by UnitingCare Community Options (UCCO) in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne were examined against the expectations of case management as a policy solution to a range of perceived policy problems at the micro-, meso- and macro-levels. The micro-level expectations were related to client and family experiences of the service system and outcomes. At the meso-level expectations were focused on perceived service delivery problems such as poor matching of services to the needs of ‘complex’ clients including a lack of integration, flexibility and responsiveness to clients’ needs and preferences. Perceived macro-level policy problems were concerned with a variety of issues including increasing rates of institutionalisation, increasing costs to governments, lack of economic efficiency and the desire to create market or quasi-market conditions in the community care service delivery sector. (For complete abstract open document)

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of New South Wales, 2002. / Also available online.

Thesis (M.S.W.)--University of Hong Kong, 1992.