We invite scholars and practitioners to contribute to the forthcoming edited volume, Shaping Local Governance in a Changing Context: Perspectives from the Global South. This book seeks to explore the evolving dynamics of local governance in the Global South, focusing on decentralization, recentralization, hybrid governance models, the policies of government elites, and the strategies of local actors.

Guest editor(s)

David Ketchum, University of Oregon, Kim Duckett, North Carolina State University, Nancy Falciani-White, Randolph-Macon College

Presentation

We invite scholars and practitioners to contribute to the forthcoming edited volume, Shaping Local Governance in a Changing Context: Perspectives from the Global South.

This book seeks to explore the evolving dynamics of local governance in the Global South, focusing on decentralization, recentralization, hybrid governance models, the policies of government elites, and the strategies of local actors.

The volume will address innovative theoretical frameworks, comparative case studies, and policy advancements to understand how local governance systems adapt to challenges such as urbanization, migration, social equity, sustainable development, natural disaster management, political tensions between local and central actors, and the rescaling of the state through decentralization and recentralization policies.

Submissions employing top-down, bottom-up, or mixed approaches, as well as quantitative, qualitative, or mixed-method empirical analyses, are highly encouraged.

Objectives

• To analyze decentralization and recentralization trends across diverse regions, including Africa, Latin America, Asia, and the Middle East.
• To examine the role of local governance in addressing global issues such as climate change, migration, and economic disparities.
• To provide actionable insights for policymakers, urban planners, and development practitioners.

Suggested topics

We welcome submissions on, but not limited to, the following themes:

• Decentralization, recentralization, and hybrid governance: Comparative perspectives. The Evolving Relationship Between the State and Municipalities: Decentralization, Control, and Autonomy.
• Urban governance and the challenges of rapid urbanization and strained infrastructure.
• Public-Private Partnerships and Local Governance.
• Urban Governance in Megacities: The Challenge of Managing Complexity.
• Municipalities and the Provision of Public Services: Models, Challenges, and Innovations.
• Citizen Participation and Local Governance: Strengthening Democratic Accountability.

How to submit

Authors are invited to submit an abstract of 300-500 words, along with a short bio (100 words),

by May 30, 2025.

Selected contributors will be notified by June 15, 2025. Full chapters (6,000-8,000 words, including references) are due by March 1, 2026. All submissions will undergo a peer review process to ensure high academic standards.

Projected 2025 deadlines

•     Chapter abstract submission (250–500 words): 30 May 2025
•     Notification of acceptance: 15 June 2025
•     Full chapter submission deadline: 15 September 2025
•     Peer review & editorial feedback: September–October 2025
•     Revised chapter submission deadline: 15 November 2025
•     Final editing & compilation: November–December 2025
•     Submission of full manuscript to publisher: 31 December 2025
•     Estimated publication date: Spring/Summer 2026

Publisher

This book will be published by Emerald Publishing, a leading academic publisher known for its contributions to social science and governance literature. All submissions will undergo a rigorous peer review process to ensure high academic quality.

Contact information

For inquiries and submissions, please contact:

Galip Emre Yıldırım, Department of Law & Political Science, University of Nantes

Email: gemreyildirim@gmail.com

We look forward to your contributions to this vital discourse on local governance in the Global South!g