Suchergebnisse

There is a growing need for regional governance in Western European countries. Unitary states and nations like the Netherlands, France and England do not (yet) have fully fledged, general purpose intermediate governments that can fulfil this need. This article reviews the institutional arrangements for regional governance in the countries mentioned. The existing arrangements turn out to have a great deal in common and show comparable flaws. Drawing on experience from France and the Netherlands, and against the background of the debate on elected Regional Assemblies in England, the article reflects on the need for an autonomous regional government and the requirements it has to meet. © 2005 Taylor & Francis Group Ltd.

Constitutional arrangements in parts of the UK have been transformed by political devolution. In England, however, reliance has been placed on strengthening the regional tier through administrative decentralisation. Drawing on the views of Whitehall civil servants, this article explores how central–regional relations are being recalibrated and how government is building a regional perspective into its activities. We conclude that, in the absence of regional government, Whitehall is pursuing a cautious approach to regional working and greater attention needs to be given to incorporating regional priorities in national spending programmes and developing a more coherent approach to regional strategy making. ; Constitutional arrangements in parts of the UK have been transformed by political devolution. In England, however, reliance has been placed on strengthening the regional tier through administrative decentralisation. Drawing on the views of Whitehall civil servants, this article explores how central–regional relations are being recalibrated and how government is building a regional perspective into its activities. We conclude that, in the absence of regional government, Whitehall is pursuing a cautious approach to regional working and greater attention needs to be given to incorporating regional priorities in national spending programmes and developing a more coherent approach to regional strategy making.

This document constitutes the Comparative Study of the Precoll project – Policies for Regional Cooperation in Lifelong Learning, led by the Università degli Studi di Firenze-Dipartimento di Scienze dell'Educazione e dei Processi Culturali e Formativi / University of Florence-Department of Educational Sciences and Cultural and Training Processes, in partnership with Generalitat de Catalunya (Spain), Junta de Andalucía (Spain), Regione Toscana (Italy), Welsh Assembly Government (United Kingdom), Jämtland County Council (Sweden), NIACE Dysgu Cymru-National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (United Kingdom), Provincia di Livorno Sviluppo Srl (Italy), subcontractor Melius Srl (Italy). EARLALL has been supporting the quality of the work, as well as Cedefop thanks to the regular advice and suggestions provided by Steven Bainbridge.

Internationalisation of regional development policies – Needs and demands in the Nordic countries. Different regions have different preconditions for polycentric or monocentric development. Eitherspatial structure can be rational as a consequence of e.g. location and territorial capacity. However the concepts and policy applications have been questioned as to their feasibility in all types of countries and regions. Particularly in the Nordic countries, where many regions are marked by low population density and peripheral location, working towards a polycentric growth strategy may not have the same effects as in the central Europe, for instance. Debates on polycentricity in regional policy and governance have proceeded along different lines in the Nordic countries, but the outcomes are still comparable in several respects. Thus this report omprises four country studies (Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden) in which we examine whether and how the concept of polycentricity has played a role in the debates on regional evelopment policy and governance reforms in these countries. The analysis provides a review of how polycentricity is interpreted against the contours of regional development policy and the regional/municipal reform processes in each country and in light of the particular settlement patterns of Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden.

The Energy Efficiency First (E1st) principle balances demand and supply options, including energy efficiency at the supply side, in order to prioritise the least-expensive investments for the energy system from a whole society's point of view. It is an organising principle in which assessing the potential for energy savings and demand response becomes the first step in any energy-related decision. Up to now, the E1st principle has been discussed to some extent in the National Energy and Climate Plans; however, when it comes to the regional and local governance levels, this principle is not yet explicit in the public debate. Regional authorities elaborate own development plans that include decisions on energy investments in both supply and demand sectors.This paper carries out an analysis in four EU regional authorities testing how the E1ST principle can be applied in their regional planning processes. The primary energy planning elements in their cases are to decide on the types of investments (although regions partly do not invest directly in energy infrastructures) through setting up regional support schemes (such as grant schemes for building renovation, training programmes for building professionals and others) and to define the least-cost resource mix in all key policy areas involved (such as power, gas and heating sectors, and balancing energy demand and supply side investments). The allocation of the regional budget to these support schemes is also linked to the design of the Regional Operational Programs, where the E1st principle can be put in place. The paper describes a decision support process for the four regions to operationalize the E1st principle in practice, analysing regional planning cycles and procedures, taking into account multilevel governance aspects and relevant inputs from regional stakeholders.

Since the early 1990s, new forms of regional governance have spread over Western Europe: In many countries, the competencies and ressources of the subnational level have been reinforced (Jessop 1997). In parallel, there has been a shift from hyrarchical modes of government to more flexible, network-based types of governance. These are largely based on the cooperation of public and private actors as well as the civic sector (Benz 2003, Healey 2002 a.o.). Despite its popularity, the regional governance approach has so far only rarely been evaluated systematically. There might be several reasons for this shortcoming. First, the regional governance concept still lacks a clear definition; without knowing what regional governance is, it is hardly feasible to "test" for its outcomes. Moreover, regional governance systems and processes are marked by continuous and rapid transformations. Hence it is difficult to capture their impacts. Finally, the complexity of regional development processes render the assessment of the institutional background a methodological challenge. In the face of these considerations, this paper pursues a threefold objective. First, the authors explain the various needs of evaluating regional governance approaches. These include matters of efficiency as well as cohesion and accountability. Second, the paper discusses the methodological pitfalls and tasks that evaluators need to tackle in order to assess the benefits and weaknesses of regional governance processes . Third, the paper povides an insight into German evaluation experiences in the field, namely some first results from an evaluation of regional cooperation processes in Northrhine-Westfalia carried out at the ILS NRW in Dortmund. The paper concludes by deducing recommendations on how to evaluate regional governance.

The paper argues that a new species of political institution has quickly spread across the globe to deal with regional governance. This new institutional form has similarities with the "state," "international institution," and "IGO" but also significant differences. The paper identifies the characteristics that constitute the population of regional governance institutions. The paper then identifies six core morphological characteristics that vary over time and space within this population. We then track empirically the changing nature of this population from 1980 to 2005. For example, by 2005 almost all countries of the world are members of at least one regional governance institution. Next we survey the very wide scope of economic and security issues covered in these institutions and how that has evolved over time. Finally, we show that almost all important single-issue security (military alliances), free trade agreements, along with new international courts are in fact all embedded in regional governance institutions. The paper concludes with some speculations about the causes of the rapid development in regional governance over the last 30 years. ; Dieser Beitrag argumentiert, dass Governance auf regionaler Ebene zunehmend von einer neuen, sich weltweit schnell ausbreitenden Art politischer Institution geprägt wird. Die neue institutionelle Form weist Ähnlichkeiten mit dem "Staat", der 'internationalen Institution" und der "internationalen Regierungsorganisation" auf. Gleichzeitig zeigen sich aber auch deutliche Unterschiede. Dieser Beitrag identifiziert Charakteristika, welche die Population der regionalen Governance-Institutionen konstituieren. Danach identifiziert der Beitrag sechs morphologische Charakteristika, die über Zeit und Raum innerhalb der Population variieren. Im nächsten Schritt folgt eine empirische Untersuchung der wandelnden Natur der Population von 1980 bis 2005. Beispielweise waren im Jahr 2005 fast alle Staaten der Welt Mitglieder mindestens einer regionalen Governance-Institution. Des Weiteren analysieren wir die große Vielfalt an ökonomischen und sicherheitsbezogenen Themen, die solche Institutionen abdecken und betrachten ihre zeitliche Entwicklung. Schließlich zeigen wir, dass fast alle wichtigen Verteidigungsabkommen (militärische Bündnisse), Freihandelsabkommen sowie alle neuen internationalen Gerichtshöfe in regionalen Governance-Institutionen eingebettet sind. Der Beitrag schließt mit einigen Überlegungen über Ursachen der raschen Entwicklung der regionalen Governance der letzten 30 Jahren.

In Latin America the repercussions of the proliferation and overlapping of regional organizations are discussed widely. This article examines the opposing views on this process. Some authors postulate that an exhaustion of integration in Latin America will end up in segmented regionalism and hemispheric disintegration. Others endorse a variable geometry of integration that facilitates intraregional cooperation and minimizes the risk of veto players and zero-sum politics. The article takes Latin America as a vantage point to analyse the topic of interacting and overlapping regional organizations from a more general perspective. It asks about the conditions under which the proliferation and overlapping of regional organizations might have positive or negative effects (on regional integration and cooperation). Additionally, it advocates broadening the analytical focus and replacing the analytical concepts of regional integration and cooperation with the analytical concept of regional governance. Regional governance more adequately captures and integrates different patterns of regional cooperation and different regional projects that result in overlapping regional organizations. Instead of looking at the proliferation of regional organizations from a perspective of fragmentation, this article contends that the focus should be redirected to analysing how different regional organizations interact. Regional interaction patterns can vary between synergistic, cooperative, conflictive, or segmented regional governance (complexes). In an initial application of this analytical scheme, the article summarizes the changing regional cooperation patterns in South America since 1990. In the conclusions it outlines some preliminary ideas for a future research agenda on regional governance (complexes).

Regional governance has received growing attention, not only from researchers, but also from politicians and practitioners of regional development. The understanding and usage of the concept, however, are highly heterogeneous: sometimes regional governance is described or explained in terms of its characteristics, processes and impacts, while at other times, it is framed as a tool for regional development. This article develops a definition and framework for a systematic assessment of various regional governance forms. For this purpose, it draws on material from a three-round Delphi survey among practitioners and researchers who are experts of regional governance. On this basis, a consolidated definition of regional governance is proposed as 'the vertical and horizontal coordination of regional transformation processes beyond administrative boundaries by state and non-state actors'. Furthermore, the framework identifies five dimensions of regional governance: (a) participation, (b) bindingness, (c) formalisation, (d) regional autonomy and (e) power relations. These dimensions are disaggregated into a total of 21 indicators to systematically describe and analyse different regional governance forms., Regional governance has received growing attention, not only from researchers, but also from politicians and practitioners of regional development. The understanding and usage of the concept, however, are highly heterogeneous: sometimes regional governance is described or explained in terms of its characteristics, processes and impacts, while at other times, it is framed as a tool for regional development. This article develops a definition and framework for a systematic assessment of various regional governance forms. For this purpose, it draws on material from a three-round Delphi survey among practitioners and researchers who are experts of regional governance. On this basis, a consolidated definition of regional governance is proposed as 'the vertical and horizontal coordination of regional transformation ...

Parallel Session 3: 3.1 Urbanization ; The impacts of globalization and the collapse of the global credit market, along with the shift in economic production, forced economic restructurings, are greatly affecting and stimulating the trajectories of China's economic developments. Under these circumstances, urban and regional governance is changing rapidly with complicated relations between government, the economy and the emerging civil society. The Outline of the Plan for the Reform and Development of the PRD 2008-2020 and other national plans for revitalizing key industries provide impetus for possible mid-term regional economic development and transformation in south China. ; published_or_final_version

Northern Ontario has been inadequately governed, perpetuating chronic health, social and economic issues. Recent policy discourse has suggested that the region take more control through the development of new regional governance or governments. The region should also look to other Northern jurisdictions for ideas. This comparative case study examined the state of regional governance in two Northern regions, comparing the calls for regional governance change to more effectively administer Northwestern Ontario (as a part of Northern Ontario) against the Norwegian state-mandated amalgamation of Troms and Finnmark Counties (as part of Northern Norway). Six public officials– elected officials (politicians) or public servants (bureaucrats)– were interviewed in Northwestern Ontario and four were interviewed in the former Troms and Finnmark Counties. Informants in both countries validated the concept of Northern alienation and generally agreed that better regional governance and less central control was needed. Important considerations from Norway experience's could inform Northern Ontario should it embark on regional governance change, including: consider a collaborative approach rather than a top-down, forced amalgamation; avoid determining the "form before function"; consider a "place-based" approach; consider regional rivalries and the impact of "re-centralization" to new capitals; include an external perspective; and involve Indigenous people from the beginning. Finally, in both Northern Norway and Northern Ontario, the most important overarching observation may be that public and Indigenous governance remains on separate tracks. This is of greater concern to Northern Ontario, where public regional governance appears to be stagnant while Indigenous governance continues to evolve.

The book argues that jurisdictional design is shaped by functional and communal pressures. Functional pressures arise from the character of the public goods provided by government: their scale economies, externalities, and informational asymmetries. However, to explain demands for self-rule one needs to understand how people think and act in relation to the communities they conceive themselves belonging. The authors demonstrate that scale and community explain basic features of governance, including the growth of multiple tiers over the past six decades; how jurisdictions are designed; why governance within the state has become differentiated; and the extent to which regions exert authority. ; -- List of Tables -- List of Figures -- List of Maps -- Prologue 1. Scale and Community 2. Measuring Regional Authority 3. Trends in Regional Authority 4. Designing Jurisdictions 5. Community and Differentiated Governance 6. Community and the Structure of Governance 7. Five Theses on Regional Governance -- References -- Index

This article examines the functioning of Regional Development Agencies (DAs) in Turkey from a policy instruments approach with a view to uncovering their intended and unintended consequences for regional governance. The policy instruments approach challenges the functionalist view that instruments are merely technical and neutral devices for realizing policy aims in the most effective way. Instead, the article shows that as policy instruments, the DAs are highly political with important political consequences. The article is based on original data collected and generated from an extensive review of official documents and reports and semi-structured interviews with local stakeholders in six different regions conducted between 2011 and 2014. On the basis of the findings, the article argues that the DAs in Turkey lack the capacity to act as focal points for empowerment of sub-national actors and to foster intra-regional networks between public and private sectors and civil society. Findings show that there is lack of collaboration both between and among different groups of local and those of central actors within the decision-making and implementation stages of the policy cycle and that local actors perceive the DAs as devices for accomplishing their own objectives rather than as partnerships for producing new possibilities of development. These findings indicate that the DAs are far from mobilizing endogenous growth capacities, greatly hindering them from becoming engines of development in their regions. Overall, the DAs are largely failing to manage multiscalar relations of governance for the purpose of promoting regional development. ; Publisher's Version

In May 2007, the Canadian Rural Revitalization Foundation (CRRF), Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador (MNL), and researchers at Memorial University and the University of Kentucky started an extensive research project with assistance from the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Labour Market Development Agreement to assist stakeholders to better understand the interdependencies between urban and rural communities and labour markets. The research presented in this report represents one of the most extensive assessments and inventories of regional governance activities and regional organizations (e.g. committees, organized interests, and divisions of various government departments) undertaken in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

With a total area of 3 509 600 km2 and a population of over 80 340 000 people, the eight WAEMU countries (the West Africa Economic and Monetary Union) have many products to offer the international market. These products can be classified into three categories: fishery products, agricultural products, and agro-industrial products resulting from the processing in the first two categories. Despite the real independence of these categories, they share a common thread: efficient quality management. The crux of the matter is efficient quality management which denotes both effective and efficient management of the products. While all the theories of efficiency acknowledge a border between effectiveness and efficiency and highlight the complementarity of the two concepts, it is nonetheless interesting to note that the Russian language combines the two concepts into a single word: "effectivnost". The efficiency of a quality infrastructure is determined by both its effectiveness and its efficiency since a quality product is one that meets the standards in place, has a number of inherent characteristics that fulfil stated requirements, and can be sold within budget limits set by the consumer. In other words, quality must be managed at a restricted cost so that it is not a source of increased production costs. The formal ratification of the SOAMET (West African Secretariat of Metrology), the NORMCERQ (Regional Body of Standardization, Certification and Quality Promotion) and the SOAC (Regional Body of Accreditation) by the eight WAEMU countries through the signing of Regulation No. 01/2005/CM/UEMOA (Scheme for the Harmonization of the Activities of Accreditation, Certification, Standardization and Metrology in the WAEMU) is a very positive step. Nevertheless, both the successful implementation of this regulation and the quality of work that will derive from these organizations depend on the quality of the human factor, i.e. the competence of the people involved. The CAFMET is in a position to help solve what amounts to an equation with several unknowns. Indeed, the CAFMET has an internationally recognized expertise that continues to demonstrate its value to international metrology and standardization authorities.