With this book we aim at describing and analysing the selection, daily life, networks and values of local top political leaders in seventeen European countries. The empirical nourishment to the investigation into town halls across Europe is a survey conducted in 2003 with mayors and corresponding top local political leaders. The data covering responses from 2700 leaders is a unique and rich material allowing descriptions and analyses pursuing a number of lines of inquiry.

Henry Bäck is professor of Public Administration at the School of Public Administration, Göteborg University.
Dr. Hubert Heinelt is professor for public administration/ public policy and urban studies at the Institute for Political Science of Darmstadt University of Technology.
Annick Magnier is professor of Urban Sociology at the University of Florence, Facoltà di Scienze Politiche "Cesare Alfieri".