Disclosing the Relational Structure of Institutional Cross-border Cooperation in Two Cross-border Regions in Europe

Abstract

Abstract:Cross-border cooperation (CBC) has evolved as a crucial objective of the European Union and an object of extensive research. As an intrinsically relational process wherein networks, and cooperation are integral to understanding the CBC, social capital and social network analysis offer a complementary perspective. Data were gathered through in-depth interviews with experts and secondary sources. This paper contributes using social network analysis to examine and describe the network structure of institutional CBC and Interreg programmes in two different cross-border regions. The results address the importance of the visualization of less and more integrated areas and the identification of key institutional actors in CBC.

The role of open borders and cross-border cooperation in regional growth across Europe

“…The positive relationship between the EU's further integration and the scaling-up of CBC activities is a well-supported argument without much controversy (Grix, 2001;Nadalutti & Kallscheuer, 2017;Perkmann & Sum, 2002). Several case studies lend support to the argument that these two processes go hand in hand (Brunet-Jailly, 2004;Casula, 2005;González-Gómez & Gualda, 2020;OECD, 2013;O'Dowd et al, 2004;Sielker, 2016). The fact that INTERREG was elevated into one of the major goals of EU Cohesion Policy in 2007 is in itself a supporting proof that CBC is central to the very existence of the EU (Medeiros, 2018).…”

Where there is a will, there is a way: some remarks on institutional distance in the Polish-German borderland

“…In most cases, cross-border cooperation is undertaken by means of an agreement to reach specific (and often shared) goals, resulting from the proximity of the cooperating entities. Thus, cross-border cooperation in the subject literature refers solely to the cooperation of local government units (Groupe 2007;Raczyk et al 2012;Ciok and Łoboda 1997;Ciok 2000Ciok , 2004Ciok et al 2008;Makulska 2006;Heffner and Polko 2001;Durand 2015;Podadera and Calderón Vázquez 2018;González-Gómez and Gualda 2020;Beck 2018).…”

“…the EU's INTERREG and EGTC. Still, the respective local government units in different states often differ in their respective competences (which often prove insufficient in their own right), producing one of the major barriers for cross-border cooperation, both in and outside of Europe (Groupe 2007;Lammers et al 2006;Wróblewski 2020c;Ciok and Łoboda 1997;Przybyła 1997;Ignasiak-Szulc 2009;Poleszczuk et al 2013;Białobrzeska and Marks-Bielska 2004;Decoville et al 2010;Durand 2015;Podadera and Calderón Vázquez 2018;González-Gómez and Gualda 2020;Beck 2018).…”

Kinship of bidayuh dayak ethnic at the border of Entikong-Indonesia and Tebedu-Malaysia

“…Integrasi antara masyarakat perbatasan menjadi suatu modal sosial dalam keberhasilan pembangunan kawasan perbatasan (González-gómez & Gualda, 2013). Diantaranya, strategi perencanaan lintas batas Swedia-Norwegia yang memberikan ruang kepada penduduk lokal (Braunerhielm, Alfredsson Olsson, & Medeiros, 2019); pelibatan lembaga dan aktor lokal di perbatasan negara uni Eropa dalam jaringan sosial pembangunan kawasan perbatasan (González-gómez & Gualda, 2018;Pipkin & Pipkin, 2018).…”