The thesis assesses the role of the Association of Ukrainian Cities (AUC) in the process of democratic reform of the local government system in Ukraine in the period from 1992 to 2002. The focus of the study is an investigation of the AUC's efforts to fashion a strategic role for the localities in local government reform by strengthening their internal capabilities and engaging in new mechanisms and procedures of policymaking. The study draws on the policy networks literature, in particular the dialectical multi-level Policy Network Analysis (PNA) of Marsh and Smith (2000, 2001) and the network typology of Marsh and Rhodes (1992), in order to structure and interpret the wealth of new empirical data. To assess the AUC's interactions with other institutions and actors in the field of local government reform, and the ways in which the AUC locates itself within the wider policy environment, the study examines various aspects of the transition process taking place in Ukraine. More particularly, a review of state and nation building, democratisation, economic reform, state-civil society relations and the nature of local government reform in Ukraine is undertaken to reveal the motivations behind the establishment of the AUC and the wider local government reform network. In addition, such a review allows for an assessment of the nature of membership and the patterns of interaction between individual actors within the local government reform network, as well as a consideration of their individual and collective impact on resultant policy outcomes. The thesis argues that the local government reform network, in which the AUC is a key actor, represents the principal mode of governance in the politics of local government reform in Ukraine. The utility of the dialectical multilevel PNA model lies in conceptualising the increasing institutional nature of the links between local authorities and central government in the area of local government reform. Furthermore, an application of the chosen theoretical framework provides an insight into the increased complexity and differentiation of policy making brought about by the transition process. In particular, recognition of policy networks contributes to an understanding of post-Soviet governance, which involves the participation of numerous public and private institutions, actors, interests and policies.