Governance of Europe's city regions : planning, policy, and politics

Governance of Europe's City Regions considers the changing role of the European Union in regional issues, explores how national governments have become increasingly involved at the regional scale and examines the constitutional and political contexts in which regional and local governments operate. Detailed case studies of regionals in Germany and England illustrate contrasts in European approaches to the scale of government, and the complex interactions of international, national, regional and local scales of policy intervention. The book offers a unique perspective, which links together an analysis of both regional Europe and the local economic and political factors that shape successful regions. Governance Of Europe's City Regions Is A Structured Overview Of Current Debates On Cities And Regions. It Provides An Understanding Of Trends At Varying Spatial Scales And Explores A Range Of Different European Experiences That Consider Prospects For The Effective Governance Of City Regions. Contrasts Arise From Diverse Economic And Spatial Contexts, And From The Complex Interactions Of National, Regional And Local Politics And Policy. This Book Examines The Trends In Regional Development And The Responses Of European Scale Regional And Urban Policy, Including The Changing Role Of The European Union With Regard To Regional Issues. The Authors' Core Argument Develops A Distinction Between Two Types Of City Region, Showing That City Regions Dominated By A Single Core City Face Different Challenges From 'polycentric' Regions That Link Groups Of Cities. In Addition To These Differences, National Constitutional Contexts Constrain Regional And Local Governments, And Local Political And Cultural Forces Influence The Effectiveness Of City And Regional Governance. Arguments Are Illustrated Through A Range Of Detailed Case Studies, With Particular Emphasis On The Complex Interactions Of Regional, National And Local Scales In England And Germany. Governance Of Europe's City Regions Introduces And Summarizes A Broad Collection Of Interdisciplinary Literature. It Clarifies Contemporary Debates About Regionalism And Questions Claims About A 'new Regionalism'. The Authors Argue That The City Region Scale Continues To Be Contested, That No Single Governance Model Will Fit All Experiences. They Also Asset That There Is A Need For A Careful Appreciation Within City Regions Of The Interactions Of Local Institutions, Their Constitutional Context And Their Economic Prospects.--jacket. 1. Governance And Planning Of City Regions: Introduction -- 2. Theoretical Explanations Of City Regions: Territory, Institutions, Networks -- 3. European Regions And Regional Policy -- 4. Governing Mono- And Polycentric City Regions In Europe -- 5. Formal Regions And Regional Governance In England And Germany: Centralized And Decentralized Regionalism -- 6. Monocentric City Regions In Unitary And Federal States: Experiences Of Regionalization In England And Germany -- 7. Polycentric City Regions: Between Competitive Localism And 'marriages Of Convenience' -- 8. City-regional Government And Governance. Tassilo Herrschel And Peter Newman. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [212]-226) And Index. Book Cover......Page 1 Title......Page 4 Contents......Page 5 Governance and planning of city regions: introduction......Page 8 Theoretical explanations of city regions: territory, institutions, networks......Page 19 European regions and regional policy......Page 43 Governing mono- and polycentric city regions in Europe......Page 73 Formal regions and regional governance in England and Germany: centralized and decentralized regionalism......Page 121 Monocentric city regions in unitary and federal states: experiences of regionalization in England and Germany......Page 148 Polycentric city regions: between competitive localism and 'marriages of convenience'......Page 181 City-regional government and governance......Page 209 Glossary......Page 216 References......Page 219 Index......Page 234 Governance of Europe's City Regions is a structured overview of current debates on cities and regions. It clarifies contemporary debates about regionalism and contributes new insights into the theory of 'new regionalism'.