Abstract
Recent advances in the literature regarding local government and governance are demonstrating that models of intermunicipal cooperation are becoming widespread and having an impact on both the organizational dimension and the policy making/service planning side. The success of these arrangements can vary according to several variables such as the regional context, and the services on which is focused the cooperation and the presence/absence of normative constrains that promote these models of cooperation. The aim of this article is to develop a better understanding of a new regional policy focused on area social plans which requires a change in the governance of interorganizational collaborations. This article addresses the gap in the literature on local governance of interorganizational collaborations and area social plans. An empirical study was conducted of four emblematic case studies in one of the most important Italian regions. The results confirm that the new governance of interorganizational collaborations must be characterized by positive interaction between structures, processes, and actors. The results also showed that the presence of certain circumstances such as close ties, many pre-existing relations among the municipalities, and a high level of trust among political parts and administrative offices, appears to smooth the path to success of intermunicipal coordination.
Highlights
In order to cope with the challenges arising from the emergence of new social needs as a result of the economic crisis, governments are redefining welfare state provisions as well as the governance models which influence the planning and supply of social services
Our aim is to develop a better understanding of the change in the governance of interorganizational collaboration required by a new regional policy focused on a reorganization of area social plans
Our study has proved to be remarkable because, through the analysis of the Italian Piani di Zona’s experience and of their peculiar form of area planning and inter-municipal cooperation, it reveals how the definition of an institutionalized arena needs the presence of close and routinized relationships among members and a substantial levels of mutual trust, plus the presence of leadership roles, in order to positively respond to external pressure for change
Summary
In order to cope with the challenges arising from the emergence of new social needs as a result of the economic crisis, governments are redefining welfare state provisions as well as the governance models which influence the planning and supply of social services These changes are occurring in most the nations member of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and involve various government levels. And this is the target of our reflection, it is at the local level that it is possible to observe a significant redefinition in the organization of social policies and, in the governance models that pertain to this sector of public policies, further characterized by a significant process of decentralization. Our aim is to develop a better understanding of the change in the governance of interorganizational collaboration required by a new regional policy focused on a reorganization of area social plans
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