Subnational transnational networking and the continuing process of local-level Europeanization

Abstract

One of the features of local level Europeanization has been the emergence of transnational networking (TN) undertaken by subnational authorities (SNAs). This activity, which received much attention during the 1990s, enables SNAs to take

Differentiation from Below: Sub-national Authority Networks as a Form of Differentiated Cooperation

“…This is more so if we consider that members of a transnational network may, in some cases, also act as nodes that relay domestically (e.g., through national networks) what they have learnt from the EU as well as their peers abroad. To the extent that intra-network learning processes are connected to EU policies, not being represented in one or more networks may also affect a country's capacities and opportunities in terms of sub-national level Europeanisation (Huggins 2018b, Kern and Bulkeley 2009).…”

Subnational Government and Transnational Networking: The Rationalist Logic of Local Level Europeanization

“…The concept of Europeanization has been readily applied to the subnational level (for example Barbehön, 2016;Benz and Eberlein, 1999;de Rooij, 2002;Goldsmith, 1993Goldsmith, , 2003Goldsmith, , 2011Hamedinger and Wolffhardt, 2010;Huggins, 2018;John, 2000John, , 2001Kern and Bulkeley, 2009;Kettunen and Kungla, 2005;Marshall, 2005;Pflieger, 2014;Van Bever et al, 2011). Early research on local level Europeanization focused on the extent to which SNAs had become 'Europeanized' (Goldsmith, 1993;Goldsmith and Klausen, 1997;John, 2000John, , 2001.…”

“…Networks’ size also varies. Some are bilateral partnerships between two SNAs, while others are multilateral (Huggins, ; Kern, , p. 115). Co‐operation can also be open‐ended or temporary to deliver particular projects.…”

“…Furthermore they have an established tradition of engaging in TN (Church and Reid, , ). Between 2001 and 2011, they were involved in 302 transnational links (Huggins, ). As a result they have been heavily exposed to Europeanization processes over at least 30 years.…”

“…The presence of subnational authorities (SNAs) at the European Union (EU) level is increasingly recognized. This includes recognition in the Committee of the Regions, the presence of local and regional representative offices in Brussels (for example Rowe, 2011;Tatham, 2010Tatham, , 2016 and engagement in subnational transnational networks (for example Heinelt and Niederhafner, 2008;Huggins, 2018;Kern and Bulkeley, 2009;Payre, 2010). These activities have led to a growing literature on local level Europeanization (for example Barbehön, 2016;Benz and Eberlein, 1999;de Rooij, 2002;Goldsmith, 1993Goldsmith, , 2003Goldsmith, , 2011Hamedinger and Wolffhardt, 2010;Huggins, 2018;John, 2000John, , 2001Kern and Bulkeley, 2009;Kettunen and Kungla, 2005;Marshall, 2005;Pflieger, 2014;Van Bever et al, 2011).…”