The New Territorial Politics: Rivalry and Justice in Post-devolution Britain

The advent of democratic devolution in the UK will trigger a new debate about territorial justice and regional rivalry, issues which have been latent in UK politics for many years. Far from being a pre-modern residue, territorially-based politics can help to reform the UK's over-centralized state system. But if the 'dark side' of territorial politics is to be contained - in the shape of rivalry, chauvinism and parochialism, for example - the UK will need to develop a fairer and more transparent system for allocating public expenditure, a system which can claim to be territorially just.