Clusters and the spatial concentration of economic development are themes which crop up more and more in recent debates in social and economic history. This special issue wants to foster an interdisciplinary crossover of theories and ideas between economic geographers and historians, and focuses on the development of several branches of agribusiness (dairy, horticulture, olive oil and agricultural machinery) in South-western and North-western Europe during the past two centuries. The five case studies unravel and analyse the connections and interdependencies between economic actors, knowledge institutions and the State in the agro-food chain.This analysis results in four main conclusions. Firstly, in the formation of regional economic clusters not only natural conditions played a major role, or other economic determinants such as an easy access to markets. Social and cultural connections between individuals and organizations that were shaped over time, and related to geographical proximity, were important too. Secondly, governments, entrepreneurs and interest organizations, who were firmly rooted in the region's history, often cooperated and stimulated cluster development via regulatory frameworks, educational and scientific policies.Thirdly, not only consensus but also discord and competition can foster the clustering of economic activities. Finally, multi-scalar perspectives are needed in order to grasp the importance of connections between clusters and actors outside the region.
During the last quarter of the nineteenth century, science and technology opened up new avenues for dairy farmers. Improved techniques for measuring the percentage of fat content in milk and new mechanical production processes had a considerable influence on the dairy production system. However, knowledge was essential to make the most of these opportunities. Historians have offered diverse explanations for the implementation of a knowledge infrastructure within pre-existing dairy networks. Some studies have emphasized the role of individual actors, while others focused on the influence of cooperative structures. This article contributes to the latter and adds a geographical dimension to the organizational history of dairy knowledge. Based on research in archives and newspapers, it investigates two knowledge institutions in the Dutch province of Friesland: a dairy consultancy and a dairy school, both founded in 1889. The conclusion is that the implementation of knowledge institutions was encouraged by the interplay between regional initiatives and national economic policies.
The last decades have seen the rise of a European politic of cultural identity. One of the most recent initiatives in this respect, dating from 2007, is the House of European History that is due to open its doors in 2015. In this article, we investigate the recent history of the House, in particular through an analysis of the Conceptual Basis that was meant to be its foundation. We analyse the two narrative strategies that are employed in the formation of a shared European past and cultural identity. The first is that of continuity, in which Europe’s deep roots are traced. The second is that of a shared European destiny. Finally, we investigate the criticism these plans have received.
dank Ben Gales voor zijn suggesties om het historiografische karakter van dit artikel te versterken.
For many years, the European Union has pursued policies that are designed to increase cooperation in the border regions that cut across its member states. The origins of this policy can be traced back to the early 1960s. It was not until the launch of the IN-TERREG programmes in the 1990s, however, that support for the social, cultural and economic development of cross-border regions became firmly rooted. A wide-ranging collection of projects and plans were carried out within the INTERREG programme framework, from infrastructural investment to the improvement of tourist facilities. European subsidies for interregional cooperation also had a positive impact on the foundation of cross-border organizations. By 1990, only 34 cross-border organizations had been founded, a number that had risen to 151 by 2006. 1 It seems that the role played by this aspect of European politics is increasing and may become even more important in the next cycle of European regional policy. 2 The phenomenon of cross-border cooperation is made all the more interesting by the fact that historically, it has developed in a unique way. People and organizations operating at the European or national levels were not the only important agents in this process. On the contrary, regional actors were very active in matters of cross-border cooperation from the very beginning. In this way, cross-border cooperation has been a bottom-up process within the broader history of European integration. Cross-border cooperation can be defined as 'more or less institutionalized collaboration between contiguous subnational authorities across national borders'. 3 To date, academic reflection on the historical dimensions of this phenomenon has been limited. Introductions to the themes, theories and methodologies of European history have paid little attention to the regional dimensions of the integration process. 4 There are some encouraging indications of a burgeoning research tradition, however, in the form of studies that address the move towards mutual interventions in border regions
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