Conclusions 235 As Bagguley et al (1990, p.

185) put it The local state then becomes both a means by which central government deals with the problematic effects of uneven development and mode of representation of interest groups potentially opposed to the centre. From the potentially contradictory nexus comes the dynamics of local policy variation. This discussion on localities helps explain hy di!!e"ent a"eas #a"y politically, socially and cultu"ally, e#en he"e state appa"atus, that is, local go#e"n$ent, is supe"!icially si$ila". %t also helps explain hy theo"ies di!!e" spatially in te"$s o! content, inte"p"etation and de#elop$ent & the o"'e"s and thei" "ep"esentati#es in ("eston and )elson ould *e li'ely to inte"p"et theo"ies o" class consciousness in di!!e"ent ays. +hat it does not do is p"o#ide us ith any c"ite"ia as to ho to de#elop theo"ies !o" places. ,nde" the post& . positi#ist app"oach, the"e a"e no ag"eed c"ite"ia to e#aluate and de#elop theo"ies that *est !it pa"ticula" ci"cu$stances. As -ichael .ea" a"gues, in deciding *et een theo"ies/ Different criteria may be appropriate in different circumstances. We may, for instance, prefer a theory because it specifies the causal connections among a set of variables; because it has the capacity for prediction and empirical verifiability; because it possesses a strong internal consistency; or because of its elegance and parsimony. The very existence of a smorgasbord of evaluative criteria is testimony to the lack of general consensus, the elusive nature of truth. !""", p. #!$ The onus, the"e!o"e, is on inte"p"etation and pe"suasion/ %nalysts&advocates 'of theories( should expect to specify and defend criteria through which their claims of privilege are sought; and they should anticipate that such claims may then be systematically analysed, and counter positions advanced. The development of such a mode of comparative discourse is, unsurprisingly, one of the most difficult tasks in philosophy and theory ) both technically and politically. Dear, !""",

p. #*$ The i$plications o! this #a"y depending on you" standpoint. 0ne #ie is that it is a good thing that the"e a"e no a*solutes to 1udge against ideas and theo"ies that ill ($o"e li'ely than not) #a"y in ti$e and space. Alte"nati#ely, a $o"e pessi$istic #ie ould *e that e should spend less ti$e 2opening up2 and cele*"ating