Building Digital Capacity in the Face of Crisis: Exploring the Impact of Municipal Amalgamations in an Intergovernmental Context

Abstract

Local governments play a crucial role in crisis response and policymaking, necessitating robust digital capacity to effectively tackle complex challenges. To meet the contemporary demand for building local capacity, especially in the digital domain and in anticipation of future crises, European countries are increasingly pursuing municipal amalgamations. Despite this prevalent trend, the impact of such amalgamations remains uncertain, lacking sufficient empirical research and neglecting intergovernmental relations. This chapter addresses this gap by (1) assessing the impact of municipal amalgamations on local digital capacity and (2) scrutinizing their intergovernmental context. Employing Jane Fountain’s Technology Enactment Framework, we propose a research model for an in-depth analysis of digital capacity evolution in a Flemish amalgamated municipality from 2017 to 2022. The results suggest that a municipal amalgamation can indeed serve as a valuable means to enhance local digital capacity, but sustained intergovernmental support remains essential. While various types of intergovernmental relations are feasible, respondents express a preference for a more centralized approach over the prevailing multilayered approach. This preference arises from an anticipation of swifter policy responses aligned with the dynamic evolution of technology and a more coordinated strategy that harmonizes local internal efforts with the intergovernmental initiatives.