About this book:

*City Power* serves as a strategic manual for municipal leaders and urban activists to maximize local authority within the complex landscape of European multi-level governance. The book argues that while cities are often legally and fiscally constrained by national and regional frameworks, they possess significant untapped leverage through the creative use of land policy, procurement, and "own-source" revenue generation. By moving beyond traditional administrative roles, cities can function as engines of democratic problem-solving and social change, provided they align their fiscal tools with clear social and environmental outcomes.

The text details specific playbooks for addressing urgent urban challenges, such as housing affordability and climate resilience. It advocates for a "Housing First" approach to homelessness and the utilization of social housing, rent stabilization, and community land trusts to secure permanent affordability. Furthermore, the book emphasizes the importance of "Smart Spending"—shifting from line-item budgeting to outcome-based finance—and leveraging public procurement to support local equity, fair labor, and green innovation. By treating land as a strategic asset rather than a commodity, cities can capture value created by public investment to fund essential infrastructure.

Central to the book’s thesis is the belief that durable political change requires deep democratic engagement. It highlights participatory budgeting and citizen assemblies as tools to build legitimacy and trust, while advocating for "co-production" through neighborhood councils and urban commons. The authors stress that modern city power is also digital, requiring robust data governance to protect privacy while improving service delivery. Ultimately, the book positions the city not as a machine to be operated, but as a living ecosystem that must be tended through coalition-building across diverse stakeholders and layers of government.

Finally, the guide addresses the "external" dimensions of city power: intergovernmental navigation and urban diplomacy. It provides strategies for lobbying national and EU institutions and emphasizes the value of city networks for peer learning and collective influence. Success in the urban arena is defined by the ability to scale pilot projects into permanent policy and to maintain momentum across electoral cycles. By mastering these relational and technical skills, municipal actors can transform local mandates into outsized impact, ensuring that the city remains a resilient sanctuary of inclusion and opportunity.

What You'll Find Inside:

• Mapping municipal power: Understanding legal mandates, charters, and the boundaries of city authority across Europe's diverse governance systems to identify what cities can actually do
• Fiscal strategy: From own-source revenue and budgeting to smart spending approaches like program budgeting and outcome-based finance that align financial resources with policy goals
• Policy levers in action: How cities use procurement, land policy, housing solutions, and urban mobility as tools for equity, sustainability, and inclusive economic development
• Democratic participation: Participatory budgeting, citizen assemblies, and co-production with communities to build legitimate, responsive governance that shares power with residents
• Scaling impact: From pilot projects to policy institutionalization, measurement frameworks (KPIs, dashboards), and building coalitions for lasting change that survives electoral cycles

Who's It For:

This book is designed for city leaders and urban activists seeking to leverage municipal authority for tangible political change. It specifically targets mayors, councillors, civil servants, civic technologists, neighborhood organizers, and campaigners who understand that city power extends beyond administration to shape democratic outcomes. Whether you're governing a major capital or a smaller municipality across Europe, this guide provides practical tools to turn policy mandates into governing programs by mapping leverage points, building coalitions, and implementing evidence-based strategies on issues ranging from housing and climate action to migration inclusion and public safety.