Analysing Intergovernmental Relations *

Abstract

The study of central–local relations in Britain is in a state of flux. Traditionally the subject has been the preserve of Public Administration but work in this tradition has been incisively criticised. However, no cogent alternative framework of analysis has been offered. This paper briefly reviews the existing British literature before assessing the contribution of recent theoretical developments in the sociology of organisations to the understanding of intergovernmental relations. It concludes that the literature on interorganisational analysis has become pre‐occupied with methodological questions and in its most common manifestations will not facilitate the analysis of intergovernmental relations. However, if interorganisational analysis is located within a theory of intra‐ and interorganisational power, it can provide a series of concepts of considerable utility. Although the paper focuses on understanding British practice, recent work on interorganisational relations in France, West Germany and the United States of America is discussed.

A Study of the Thermal Unfolding of Escherichia coli Phenylalanine Transfer RNA by Chemical Modification at Elevated Temperatures

“…Furthermore the presence of a G + U pair within a helical stem does not always make that stem thermally unstable (Table 5) [13,14]. In view of these difficulties and the conflicting results for some tRNAs (see Table 5), the agreement between the results of the chemical modification studies present here and elsewhere [39] is encouraging, particularly since different chemical reagents were used to study different tRNAs. We therefore conclude that chemical modification is a powerful technique which allows resolution of the sequential melting of folded tRNA molecules to the level of individual hydrogen-bonded bases.…”

“…Comparison of our findings with those of earlier physical studies is not possible since these have not resolved the melting of individual tertiary structure hydrogen bonds. Recently, however, studies similar to our own have been made by D. Rhodes [39] who used carbodiimide to modify yeast tRNAPhe. From her studies the same general pattern of melting of tertiary interactions is observed, i.e.…”

Iron Triangles, Woolly Corporatism and Elastic Nets: Images of the Policy Process

“…The relevance often appears striking. For example, Rhodes (1980) writes, 'The importance of the concept of dependence, and the reason that it is stressed more than the concept of power, lies in the fact that it admits of reciprocity'. He quotes Blau (1964, 118) as follows, 'By supplying services in demand to others, a person establishes power over them.…”

What if Anything is Wrong with Big Government?

“…Even when a programme is well established, an organization will need to invest substantial efforts to maintain itself in a complex inter-organizational enviroment (see e.g. Hanf & Scharpf, 1978;Hood, 1976;Rhodes, 1980). In Britain, the growth of Cabinet committees is an illustration of growing organizational complexity at the top.…”