Part 1 Conceptualizing institutional capacity: collective action and social milieux transforming governance, institutionalist analysis and institutional capacity institutional capacity-building as an issue of collective action and institutionalization - some theoretical and methodological remarks assessing institutional capacity building in a city centre regeneration partnership - Newcastle's Grainger town. Part 2 Governance in action in complex social milieux: introduction - the challenge of building new institutional capacities transformational pathways and institutional capacity building - the case of the German-Polish twin-city Guben/Gubin the tangled web - neighbourhood governance in a post-Fordist era is partnership possible? searching for a new institutional settlement governance, institutional capacity and planning for growth. Part 3 Building new institutional capacities: introduction - creating milieux for collective action compliance and collaboration in urban governance a strategic approach to community planning - re-positioning the statutory development plan sustainable institutional capacity for planning - the West Midlands urban governance in complex societies - challenges of institutional adaptation.