Work

Crisis and state transformation: Covid-19, levelling up and the UK’s incoherent state

Year: 2022

Type: article

Abstract: This article provides a novel account of recent UK governance reforms, describing what can be termed an ‘incoherent’ state, ill-equipped to address complex, multi-dimensional policy challenges. This is evidenced through two interrelated case-studies: Covid-19 and levelling up. We highlight how the tradition of strongly centralised government combined with an ad hoc approach to reform has undermined inter-governmental relations and limited the possibility of effective policy. We conclude by arguing that current levelling up proposals, focused on redesigning sub-national government, reflect these deficiencies and therefore offer an insufficient remedy for the UK’s imbalanced economic geography and resulting inequalities. The failure of past reform highlights the need for systemic transformation—including a new governance framework—to address meaningfully the UK’s geography of discontent.

Source: Cambridge Journal of Regions Economy and Society

DOI: 10.1093/cjres/rsac038

Authors: David Richards, Sam Warner, Martin J Smith, Diane Coyle

Institutions: University of Manchester, University of York, University of Cambridge

Language: English

Topic: Political Systems and Governance

Subfield: Political Science and International Relations

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Peace, justice, and strong institutions, Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $2,909