Local Governance Arrangements and Democratic Outcomes (with Some Evidence from the Italian Case) MATTEO BASSOLI* This article carries a broad definition of public–private concertation as a flexible form of governance that is able to overcome the distinction between network governance and participatory governance. It creates a unified framework relying on a process-related democratic approach in order to properly assess these practices in their democratic outcomes. This allows the article to fully depict how local governance arrangements affect local democracy, both positively and negatively. Drawing on four exemplary cases of urban policies developed in the Province of Milan, it highlights two variables that give account of the democratic implication of these practices: the role of the political leadership and the inclusive strategy that they adopt. Moreover, it underlines four additional factors that help more democratic outcomes: presence of cognitive justification, quality of participation, active opposition, and an outward communication. Introduction In recent years, the subnational dimension—“local” in a broad sense—has gained increasing salience due to its ability to address complex issues, such as active labor policies, social inclusion, and economic development. This shift from national to local levels has been driven primarily by a new collaborative attitude that has arisen among politicians and been strongly supported by political institutions. Indeed, partnerships and inclusive strategies are considered the appropriate responses when public institu- tions must deal with the combined challenge of “desire for participation and need for public goods not sufficiently covered by the standard decision-making process” (Donolo 2005, 34). Moreover, as stated by Renate Mayntz (2003, 2), governance emerges as a possible nonmarket solution when hierarchy is unable to address social problems fully. 1 In this regard, Europe and national governments have been fundamen- tal drivers in a fast-moving context characterized by globalization, eco- nomic change (modernization and tertiariation), regional competition, *Bocconi University Governance: An International Journal of Policy, Administration, and Institutions, Vol. 23, No. 3, July 2010 (pp. 485–508). © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc., 350 Main St., Malden, MA 02148, USA, and 9600 Garsington Road, Oxford, OX4 2DQ, UK. ISSN 0952-1895