When collaborative development meets New Public Governance: The case of Etorkizuna Eraikiz Territorial Development Lab in Gipuzkoa

Abstract

Etorkizuna Eraikiz Territorial Development Lab (TDLab) is a long-term action research process that has produced a change towards more horizontal forms of territorial development and policymaking governance in Gipuzkoa. The article analyses this experience to reflect on the role of public organisations in steering cooperative forms of territorial development. Specifically, the article suggests that cooperative forms of territorial development may need network-based public organisations; and it shows that TDLab has fostered and embodied practices framed under New Public Governance (NPG), a network-based public administration paradigm. By reflecting on how such practices were fostered in TDLab, the article also suggests a potential complementarity between New Public Governance and action research for territorial development, the research approach and change strategy developed in TDLab, as a means of better contributing to network based public organisations. Key words: territorial development, New Public Governance, action research, governance. Resumen El Laboratorio de Desarrollo Territorial de Etorkizuna Eraikiz (TDLab) es un proceso de investigacion accion a largo plazo que ha producido un cambio hacia formas mas horizontales de desarrollo territorial y gobierno de las politicas en Gipuzkoa. El articulo analiza esta experiencia para reflexionar sobre el papel de las organizaciones publicas en la facilitacion deformas cooperativas de desarrollo territorial. Especificamente, el articulo sugiere que las formas cooperativas de desarrollo territorial pueden necesitar organizaciones publicas en red; y muestra que TDLab ha fomentado y encarnado las practicas enmarcadas en la Nueva Gobernanza Publica, un paradigma de administracion publica basado en el concepto de red. Al reflexionar sobre como se fomentaron tales practicas en TDLab, el articulo tambien sugiere una posible complementariedad entre la Nueva Gobernanza Publica y la investigacion accion para el desarrollo territorial, el enfoque de investigacion y la estrategia de cambio desarrollada en TDLab, como un medio para contribuir mejor a la red de organizaciones publicas. Palabras clave: desarrollo territorial, Nueva Gobernanza Publica, investigacion accion, gobernanza. DOI: https://doi.org/10.31637/epsir.18-1.4