States of convergence in territorial governance

Cole, Alistair ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9222-0523, Harguindeguy, Jean Baptiste, Stafford, Ian ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0668-643X, Pasquier, Romain and De Visscher, Christian 2015. States of convergence in territorial governance. Publius: The Journal of Federalism 45 (2) , pp. 297-321. 10.1093/publius/pjv001

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Abstract

This article engages questions of policy convergence and divergence in four social-democratic European regions (Andalucía, Brittany, Wales, and Wallonia) in a period of economic crisis and ongoing political decentralization. It develops an analytical framework, the “States of Convergence,” as a useful heuristic for understanding the interplay between convergence and divergence pressures, and processes of territorial adaptation and translation. Processes of hard and soft convergence and divergence operate in distinctive ways depending upon whether inputs, outcomes, processes, or institutions are considered. Hard convergence arguments are most convincing in terms of inputs (referring to pressures of international ranking and rating, tougher European Union budgetary rules, enhanced central steering and tighter controls on public expenditure). They are less cogent for understanding outputs, institutions, and processes.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Department of Politics and International Relations (POLIR) Cardiff Law & Politics Law
Subjects:	K Law > K Law (General)
Publisher:	Oxford University Press (OUP)
ISSN:	0048-5950
Funders:	Leverhulme Trust
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	30 March 2016
Last Modified:	30 Nov 2024 03:15
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/80478

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