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SEMINAR 2001 |
THE ARKLETON TRUST
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[CONTENTS] [NEXT PAGE] |
2: Contextb: governanceThe current situation is much more complex and subtle than the discourses of the decline of governments/rise of the markets would initially indicate. For example, European multifunctionality and subsidiarity show how governments and regulation co-exists with the open markets and how joint regulation between different levels of governance can function. Indeed, the EU has issued a recent 'white paper' on governance in which it calls the new model "co-regulation". Scholars researching these trends like Hajer and Wagenaar [1] suggest that these emerging forms of governance are responding to such things as increased awareness of citizens, over-regulation by the State in certain areas, increasing uncertainty, distrust of politicians and hierarchy, and pluralistic values and the need to find new ways of managing conflict at a time of increasingly mutual dependency.The ways in which EU rural and regional development policies (European Structural Funds, LEADER programmes etc) are implemented reflects these tendencies to greater or lesser degree. They have a regional or local focus for planning and implementation, and a structure of partnerships that involve a wider set of actors than government at both local, national and EU levels. Different partners contribute financially to the enterprise as well - including the local actors. This may, however, limit some communities who are too poor, or fiscally dependent, to raise their contribution. Thus 'equality' remains an empty aspiration when there is cash or power asymmetry between places. Where local governments and other actors lack fiscal autonomy or other means of providing a local contribution, they may lack the negotiating power to assure the local interest in the face of more powerful (and fiscally able) bodies. One way of capturing the value of local contributions is to value them as 'in-kind' or 'pro-bono' activities. In England, a national cash input can be matched by local 'time' inputs. Similar things can be done in Canada with 'volunteer hours'. The use of in-kind valuation makes the value which rural areas offer visible and appreciated. To be most effective in delivering appropriate outcomes in peoples' lives, any multi-stakeholder process must be managed at a local level, whatever the coalition, even if it's original impetus comes from central government. Examples of good practise can be found in Canada around the management of the environment and forests.
[1] Hajer, M and Wagenaar, H (Eds) (2002f) Deliberative Policy Analysis. Understanding Governance in the Network Society. Cambridge: Cambridge University press.
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