Studying policy transfer and policy learning in border regions. A proposition for interdisciplinary dialogue and a research agenda

Abstract

ABSTRACT In recent years, research on cross-border cooperation has proliferated, also receiving increased attention from political science. Nevertheless, important insights from the literatures on policy learning and transfer have not been systematically introduced into this field of study so far. In this article, we address this shortcoming by offering an analytical framework for analysing policy learning and transfer in (cross-)border regions, thereby focusing on processes that may help us better capture the evolution and dynamics of cross-border regions. We conceptually discern between four different types, namely policy learning in cross-border regions, horizontal transfer in cross-border regions, horizontal transfer between cross-border regions and vertical transfer between the European or the national and the (cross-)border level. For each case, we discuss potential drivers and give empirical examples to illustrate the conceptual model.