Functionalism and representationalism in contemporary urban agendas: a Scottish perspective on city-region branding

Abstract

The turn to city-regionalism in Scotland is a consequence of the policy and political assertion of the importance of cities in the new territorial economy of a devolved state. Moreover, the developmental rationale for city-regions rests on the stronger functional realignment of economic growth, investment, housing and population patterns, and the interaction of diverse flows to realise agglomeration efficiencies. In planning and governance terms, the argument for city-regions involves a layered spatial intervention so as to secure intended institutional efficiencies and sustainable development. In practice, the city-region discourse is dominated by functional linkages and relations in factor markets. This paper questions whether this functional perspective is sufficient in socially reconstructing the cityregion identity. Adopting the concepts of functionalism and representationalism from the place-branding literature, this paper considers what may be learned from a communicative logic that is relatively more sensitive to issues of interpretation and identity.

Contingent self-definition and amorphous regions

“…Such metropolitan regions have, however, been criticised for failing to resonate with local actors because of being imposed by technocratic elites and their lack of a relation to the territory's cultural or geographical features (Healey, 2009;Lloyd and Peel, 2008).…”

An evaluative model for city competitiveness: Application to UK cities

“…Such mechanisms include business improvement districts (Blackwell, 2005;Berry et al, 2009;Lloyd and Peel, 2008) and business-led partnerships (Ball and Maginn, 2005;Grace and Ludiman, 2008;Investment Property Forum, 2009). Some of the most effective regeneration partnerships are those that involve business, community and the local authority (Hart, 2003;Hemphill et al, 2006;BITC, 2011;Sinclair and Howells, 2008;Cook, 2010).…”

Facilitating Institutional Reform in England: Reconciling City-regions and Community Planning for Efficiency Gains?

“…City-regions could facilitate a relatively more robust integration of land use planning and economic development agendas and secure the effective dovetailing of public policies across a broader regional domain. In addition, city-regionalism could potentially promote a more integrative set of arrangements for community planning at a local level by seeking a more integrated delivery of services beyond that secured within traditional local authority boundaries (Lloyd & Peel, 2008). Yet, the city-region idea may also serve to exacerbate existing institutional congestion as it suggests the need for constructing new institutions which would operate over and above established arrangements, political jurisdictions and government boundaries.…”