Multi-level Governance Theory Research Articles

Territorial Communities of France in International Cooperation with Eastern Countries and Regions (20th-21st Centuries)

This article explores the formation and development of transregional relations of territorial communities of France with Eastern countries and regions. It examines the interplay of centrifugal and centripetal tendencies in the “center-regions” relationship of the French Republic. The analysis focuses on the normative framework of international and foreign policy activities of French territorial communities based on national constitution and legislation. Traditional close ties of French regions with partners from European countries are discussed, with a special emphasis on collaborations with countries in Eastern and Southern Mediterranean, as well as North Africa. Partnership with distant Eastern territories is separately examined. The study is based on a comprehensive methodology incorporating principles of historicism, objectivity, comprehensiveness, historical-systemic and historical-comparative approaches, as well as theoretical foundations of multilevel governance theory. It includes an examination of the activities of various administrative units in France: regions, departments, municipalities, cities, and metropolises. The conclusion drawn is that the international activities of French regions are currently less active than those of regions in other European Union countries; however, in the 21st century, they have significantly intensified compared to previous periods.

Make-up of fiscal integration in the European Union

The present article aims to expose current trends in fiscal integration in the EU. Its milestones are brought forward, with particular attention being paid to the “NextGenerationEU” recovery plan, the latter constituting Brussels' key response to the socio-economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The article evaluates whether this program is going to remain a temporary phenomenon and to what extent it can define the “new normal” for the Economic and Monetary Union. Due to the Ukrainian crisis, the suggestions are spelled out more insistently to provide Brussels with “fiscal capacity” or permanent fiscal mechanisms that could repel emerging challenges and threats. The question that is considered here is whether we can expect such perpetual tools to become future elements of a full-scale fiscal union, bringing the euro area closer to the contours of an optimum currency area. The influence of European institutions as initiators of the integration process and the involvement of non-governmental players in it have received wider coverage in the specialized literature. Thus, in this case the role played in the process of fiscal integration by national governments is explored in more detail. For this purpose, the theory of multilevel governance and, in particular, its “dynamic” version are applied. It proves useful for identifying cases and ways in which governments can maintain control over decisions made within the integration system. The analysis confirmed that the Union has no plans to increase the issuance of the EU debt in order to replace national borrowing, or to transfer taxes from the national to the supranational level. It can be expected that in the future more active EU borrowing in financial markets will be accompanied by the measure of institutional flexibility which has now been achieved due to an intergovernmental compromise. At the same time temporary tools like NGEU and SURE are unlikely to lead to the fiscal union being completely federalized.

Black Heritage in the National Register: The Williams Avenue YWCA in Portland, Oregon

This paper examines the nomination of the Williams Avenue YWCA in Portland, Oregon, in the National Register of Historic Places as a crucial event in recognizing and preserving Black heritage within American national history. Our analytical framework combines Black geography and multilevel governance theory (MLG) to examine documents used for the nomination process. We unpack the historic significance of the Williams, illustrating its multifaceted role in Portland's African American community and emphasizing the role of various private and public actors in the nomination process. This analysis reveals that cities play a crucial role in protecting local history and highlights the importance of nurturing connections between cities and other levels of government. Moreover, it illustrates how the documents used for the nomination process are a tool for racial equity and it shows how historic preservation contributes to a more inclusive understanding of cities by celebrating their local, diverse, and pluralistic pasts.

The Role of Subnational Climate Policy Initiatives in Achieving Global Climate Goals

Purpose: The main objective of this study was to investigate the role of subnational climate policy initiatives in achieving global climate goals.
 Methodology: The study adopted a desktop research methodology. Desk research refers to secondary data or that which can be collected without fieldwork. Desk research is basically involved in collecting data from existing resources hence it is often considered a low cost technique as compared to field research, as the main cost is involved in executive’s time, telephone charges and directories. Thus, the study relied on already published studies, reports and statistics. This secondary data was easily accessed through the online journals and library.
 Findings: The findings revealed that there exists a contextual and methodological gap relating to the role of subnational climate policy initiatives in achieving global climate goals. Preliminary empirical review revealed that subnational climate policies have a demonstrable impact on emissions reductions and climate resilience. By adopting innovative approaches to renewable energy deployment, carbon pricing mechanisms, and climate adaptation strategies, subnational governments can serve as laboratories of experimentation, showcasing the feasibility and effectiveness of various climate solutions. These findings emphasize the importance of recognizing subnational entities as pivotal actors in climate policymaking, with the potential to catalyze broader change.
 Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The Diffusion of Innovations theory, Multi-Level Governance theory and the Policy Innovation Diffusion theory may be used to anchor future studies achieving global climate goals. The study recommended for the strengthening of intergovernmental collaborations, sharing best practices and lessons learnt, aligning climate policies with local context, measuring and reporting progress and engaging stakeholders and civil society.

Nothing but symbolic: Chinese new authoritarianism, smart government, and the challenge of multi-level governance

This study investigates the impact of Chinese new authoritarian principles on the approach to multi-level governance that China has implemented during the national transition to smart government. Employing a case study analysis, we illustrate the phenomenon of symbolic compliance, where sub-national public and private actors comply with state-level mandates but while being aware that their actions will fall short of achieving the desired improvements. This behavior, hitherto undocumented in the literature, contributes to the implementation of data-driven public service management solutions that inadequately address local governmental issues. Our findings prompt a re-evaluation of multi-level governance theory and practice in new authoritarian settings and underscore the need for a more pragmatic approach to smart government transitions in such contexts.

Breaking the Carbon Lock-In Effect in Post-disaster Rebuilding: A Case Study of a Wenchuan Earthquake-Stricken City in China

Abstract While post-disaster rebuilding is an urgent task for affected areas, an approach without consideration for climate protection will probably lead to another disaster of carbon lock-in. Therefore, policymaking and implementation are critically important. This paper takes the Guangyuan prefecture as a case study, where the local government took the lead in low-carbon initiative and made a great contribution to low-carbon development. Based on long-term field investigations and semi-structured interviews, using the theory of multi-level governance, it discusses policy formation and implementation in the Guangyuan prefecture, and how the governance system promoted an environment-and-climate-friendly rebuilding. The results demonstrate the urgency of carbon decoupling in post-disaster-rebuilding and the significance of an effective governance system. This provides insight to the contemporary world that post-disaster rebuilding is not only a revitalization of the affected areas, but a comprehensive undertaking to avoid other possible disasters and ensure a sustainable future.

A (meta)governance framework for multi-level governance of inter-organizational project networks

Little is known about the governance of inter-organizational networks for projects. This study empirically develops a theoretical framework for this, using 28 project networks as case studies, applying 124 interviews in ten countries. The abductively developed three-layered governance framework has the individual network for a project at its lowest layer, explained through Multi-level Governance Theory. This is steered by a middle layer for the governance of networks, addressing the steering of the different networks these organizations are part of. At the top is metagovernance, where the ground rules are set by governments or investors. For each layer, the governance dimensions, as well as the enablers and disablers between layers, are defined. The study’s resulting theory provides an overall understanding of the governance of multiple networks for projects and provides practitioners with the parameters to optimize their networks for better project results.

Driving Mechanism for Multi-Level Governance of Domestic Waste Sorting Based on Social Network Analysis and Interpretative Structural Modeling

Abstract Domestic waste sorting is an important link of grassroots social governance. Drawing on the theory of multi-level governance, this paper identifies 14 factors affecting the multi-level governance of domestic waste sorting, and combines social network analysis (SNA) with interpretative structural modeling (ISM) to quantify the key influencing factors, and their correlation mechanism. The results show that: (1) To form the management system for multi-level governance, it is necessary to nurture and construct a framework with government governance as the basis, the social capital as the driver, and the system self-organization as the operating mechanism. (2) The factors affecting multi-level governance can be divided into four layers: three factors, including regulatory support, belong to the bottom layer, and play a key role in the formation of the driving mechanism for multi-level governance; nine factors, including incentive measure, belong to the middle layer, and play a transitional role in the operation of the driving mechanism; three factors, namely, publicity and education, mutual trust, and practice of social norms, belong to the surface layer, and directly affect the driving mechanism for the multi-level governance of domestic waste sorting. Although the three surface layer factors clearly depend on the factors on the other layers, they exert the most direct impact on the construction and operation of the driving mechanism. The analysis results shed new light on how to study the driving mechanism for the multi-level governance of domestic waste sorting. JEL classification numbers: Q56. Keywords: Waste sorting; Multi-level governance; Social network analysis (SNA); Interpretative structural modeling (ISM).

Health workforce needs and health policy responses to COVID-19: a European comparative assessment

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic revealed the importance of the health workforce for health system resilience. This study aims to explore whether and how healthcare system in Europe have responded to new emergent needs and transformed their health workforce policies. Methods A qualitative comparative approach is applied, based on multi-level governance theory and a rapid assessment of three areas of health workforce policy: mental health, gender equality, and public health competencies. We consider two years of the pandemic with a focus on recent waves, October 2021-January 2022. Denmark, Germany, Portugal, Romania and Switzerland are selected for comparison, representing different health systems, health workforce conditions and COVID-19 indicators in the European Union and European Economic Area. Results Across countries the pandemic has highlighted mental health needs, persisting gender inequalities and demand for public health competencies. Our comparison reveals similar weaknesses and governance gaps. (1) Mental health needs of healthcare workers are increasingly recognised (more strongly in Denmark and less in Romania with the other countries clustering in-between); however, health workers’ perceptions are not used as guidance and effective programmes are lacking. (2) The situation is worst in relation to gender equality goals that are largely ignored in pandemic policy and recovery plans. (3) Public health competences are more advanced and integrated in the NHS systems in Denmark and Portugal, but no country has taken action to innovate health workforce education and strengthen public health. Conclusions The comparative assessment highlights that health systems failed to adequately respond to health workforce needs and the COVID-19 challenges. Action has to be taken to implement participatory governance and step up efforts towards more responsive and resilient health workforce policy.

Common Fisheries Policy of the EU through the Lens of Multi-Level Governance Framework

The fishery sector has a unique position within the European Union regulatory system. Being in the joint competence of supranational and national authorities, it has a complex transnational nature, characterized by an active participation of non-governmental organizations and associations, as well as a number of coordinating international authorities. Additionally, the fishery is of particular importance for nation states since it is linked to issues of sovereignty and social stability. The paper examines possible applications of the multi-level governance (MLG) theory to the study of the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), its history, current state and prospects for development. The first section outlines the key provisions of the MLG theory and describes its general applicability to the study of the EU institutions. In order to provide a better understanding of strengths and weaknesses of the MLG theory, the author compares it to a number of related approaches traditionally used in integration studies in general and the European integration studies in particular. The author concludes that the multi-level governance framework is particularly suitable to the study of complex regulatory processes that involve different actors, like in the case of the EU CFP. Such an approach allows the author to identify certain specifics of the EU political practices in this area of regulation. For example, the author highlights a clear desire of the supranational bodies to acquire additional competences and to bring about redistribution of power in their favor through mobilizing the support of sub-national actors and think-tanks and at the expense of national actors. However, the author concludes that in order to provide a truly comprehensive understanding of the EU CFP, the traditional focus of the MLG approach should be expanded to encompass yet another level of analysis — the global one.

ТЕОРЕТИЧНЕ ОСМИСЛЕННЯ ПРОЦЕСІВ РОЗВИТКУ ІНТЕГРАЦІЇ В ЄС І СПІВПРАЦІ ЙОГО КРАЇН-ЧЛЕНІВ У СФЕРІ ДОСЛІДЖЕНЬ ТА ІННОВАЦІЙ

Обґрунтовано важливість і актуальність теоретичного осмислення проблем започаткування і розвитку процесів європейської інтеграції. Виокремлено, систематизовано й розкрито сутність ключових теоретичних підходів і концепцій до вивчення явища європейської інтеграції, серед яких: федералізм, функціоналізм, неофункціоналізм, міжурядовий підхід, ліберальний міжурядовий підхід, концепція політичних мереж, теорія багаторівневого управління, інституційний підхід, теорія дезінтеграції. Охарактеризовано співпрацю європейських країн у сфері досліджень та інновацій з позиції окремих теоретичних підходів. З’ясовано, що фундамент європейської інтеграції у цій сфері було закладено на початкових етапах заснування ЄС і відтоді наукова співпраця між країнами була істотно поглиблена та розширена як у географічному, так і в секторальному сенсах. Розкрито еволюцію теоретичних ідей щодо європейської інтеграції відповідно до періодизації А. Вінер і Т. Діца, які поділили ці ідеї за історичним і сутнісним контекстами на три фази: пояснювальну, аналітичну і конструктивну. Дану періодизацію розширено й адаптовано до сучасних умов і викликів, виходячи з кризових процесів у розвитку ЄС, шляхом доповнення її четвертою фазою — дезінтеграційноюз періодом домінування починаючи з 2008 р. і дотепер. Ця назва, однак, не говорить про обов’язкове руйнування чи розпад ЄС, узагальнення теоретичних ідей щодо дезінтеграційних процесів свідчить про значну розбіжність між існуючими поглядами авторів євроскептичного нахилу, які у своїх оцінках частіше схиляються до необхідності зміни або коригування напрямів євроінтеграційного розвитку відповідно до нових реалій та очікувань країн. Зроблено акцент на необхідності теоретичного осмислення майбутніх сценаріїв розвитку інтеграції в ЄС у контексті формування нової історичної реальності, пов’язаної з військовим вторгненням РФ на територію незалежної України.

Multi-level governance in the uneven integration of the city regions: Evidence of the Shanghai City Region, China

City-regionalism has been manipulated as the primary strategy in China to enhance the competitiveness of local authorities. However, as local governments sometimes fail to share a common goal favourable to their interest, city-regionalism faces various problems. This article focuses on multi-level governance (MLG) at the sub-national scale within the city region and its influence on the city-regionalisation. By revealing the process and spatial outcome of cross-boundary integration in the Shanghai City Region (SHCR), this study discovers that the city regionalisation of SHCR has undergone three stages of evolution, resulting in the current uneven integration in the peripheries manifested in economic, social and spatial dimensions. By investigating the motivations behind inter-jurisdictional and inter-scalar cooperation among local governments based on the MLG theory, this study concludes that the pursuit for the economic spill-over can be distinctly identified from the provincial to the county level governments. During the process of city-regionalisation, multi-scalar governance and inter-jurisdictional interaction were adopted by the sub-national governments to pursue the options that favour the interests of each side. However, these seemingly harmonious initiatives have not led to collaboration and cooperation among local agencies. Nevertheless, they have instead induced contested strategies manipulated to seek the best interests of each side whereby conflicts and negotiation have emerged and reflected on spatial shaping towards uneven integration. During this process, the essential role of the provincial governments engaged in MLG in city regionalisation are highlighted.

Interactive Governance Between and Within Governmental Levels and Functions: A Social Network Analysis of China's Case Against COVID-19.

COVID-19 has created long-lasting yet unprecedented challenges worldwide. In addition to scientific efforts, political efforts and public administration are also crucial to contain the disease. Therefore, understanding how multi-level governance systems respond to this public health crisis is vital to combat COVID-19. This study focuses on China and applies social network analysis to illustrate interactive governance between and within levels and functions of government, confirming and extending the existing Type I and Type II definition of multi-level governance theory. We characterize four interaction patterns—vertical, inter-functional, intra-functional, and hybrid—with the dominant pattern differing across governmental functions and evolving as the pandemic progressed. Empirical results reveal that financial departments of different levels of government interact through the vertical pattern. At the same time, intra-functional interaction also exists in provincial financial departments. The supervision departments typically adopt the inter-functional pattern at all levels. At the cross-level and cross-function aspects, the hybrid interaction pattern prevails in the medical function and plays a fair part in the security, welfare, and economic function. This study is one of the first to summarize the interaction patterns in a multi-level setting, providing practical implications for which pattern should be applied to which governmental levels/functions under what pandemic condition.

Youth policy in the Baltic Sea Region – a case study of Lithuanian, Latvian, Estonian, and Polish youth participation in the BSSSC Working Group on Youth Policy

Youth policy, understood as youth activity and policy for youth,has been developing in the Baltic Sea region for many years. It takes placeon many levels of Baltic cooperation; therefore, this article uses the theory ofmulti-level governance for the analysis. There are some differences in youthpolicy between the communities of the Baltic Sea Region countries. This articleaims to analyse the participation of young people from the regions ofLithuania, Latvia, Poland, and Estonia in the BSR youth policy, based on theexample of the Youth Working Group of the “Baltic Sea States SubregionalCo-operation”. The main part of the article is an analysis of interviews withyouth coordinators of “Baltic Sea States Subregional Co-operation” from selectedcountries. During the study, 5 interviews were conducted, and, thanksto these interviews, the author has made interesting observations on the differencesin involvement of young people from Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, andPoland. They indicated, inter alia, disproportional access to participation in thework of the Youth Working Group “Baltic Sea States Subregional Co-operation”between Estonia and Poland, and Lithuania and Latvia. The results clearlyshow that young people from Polish regions have the greatest opportunitiesto shape youth policy in the Baltic Sea Region.

A multi-level governance response to the Covid-19 crisis in public transport

This paper examines the Dutch policy reaction to the financial crisis in the public transport sector caused by Covid-19. Using the multi-level governance theory complemented with the notion of informal governance, the analysis explains the decision-making that defined a State-aid scheme to public transport operators following a process of consultation and concertation between state and non-state actors across governance tiers. To agree on a financial rescue package, these actors engage in front-stage and back-stage political interactions, constrained and enabled by formal and informal governance structures and practices. By analyzing how the interplay between the political mobilization of actors, policy-making arrangements, and existing polity structures shapes political alignment around the financial support scheme, the paper concludes that the crisis did not change customary governance and policy-making practices. Stakeholders sought their usual partners and followed existing routines in path-dependent ways to address the policy challenge brought by Covid-19. Despite being triggered by a major exogenous shock, the policy response to the crisis was driven mainly by endogenous forces; the decision-making mechanism remained the same and the network of actors did not shrink or expand.

Including ‘inclusion health’? A discourse analysis of health inequalities policy reviews

ABSTRACT The ‘inclusion health’ agenda aims to draw attention to health disadvantages accompanying experiences putatively characterised by social exclusion, such as homelessness, problem substance use, or imprisonment. However, its increasing prominence has surfaced conceptual uncertainties and potential tensions with other understandings of health inequalities. We undertook a discourse analysis of how recent health inequalities policy documents describe, explain, and make recommendations relating to inclusion health. Using the UK as a case study, and with reference to public health accounts of multi-level governance theory, we selected five recent health inequalities policy reviews covering Scotland, UK, European Union, and the World Health Organisation. All documents referred to some inclusion health concerns, though their relative emphasis differed between documents. Terms like inclusion, exclusion, and vulnerability were commonly used, but ill-defined and often ambiguous. Explanatory discourses were diverse, with a particular focus on intergenerational cycles and disproportionate exposure to risk, with a varying emphasis on individual versus structural factors. Few documents provided coherent explanatory accounts for the relationship between the issues of interest to inclusion health, their associations with poor health, and other axes of inequality. Our results suggest that health inequalities policymaking in a multi-level context may benefit from comprehensive conceptual frameworks which encompass diverse forms of social stratification, advantage, and disadvantage, and acknowledge potential tensions and trade-offs between different understandings. This may necessitate further theoretical and empirical work for inclusion health on its definitions, bounds, and how its scope of interest interacts with other forms of social and health inequality.

Multilevel governance of large-scale land acquisitions: a case study of the institutional politics of scale of the farm block program in Zambia

Scholarly debate continues about the role of institutional policies in shaping outcomes of large-scale land acquisitions (LSLAs) in host countries. In contribution to this debate, this paper aims at assessing how land governance institutional structures in Zambia interplay with LSLA deals. It draws on the theory of multilevel governance. The paper tests the theory on Nansanga farm block that is part of the long-standing agricultural policy to improve the agriculture sector. Overall, the LSLA-policy interplay is plagued with national party politics, and lack of institutional coherence in land governance between state and customary structures. The results reveal institutional overlaps and policy inadequacy in governing signed LSLA deals. Rural development and commercial agriculture are the most important LSLA policy thrusts. Finally, traditional chiefs, local councils and commissioner of lands represent the multilevel governance structures of land governance in Zambia where corruption is perceived to be the most rampant in LSLA deals.

Multi-Level Governance, Policy Coordination and Subnational Responses to COVID-19: Comparing China and the US

The study adopted the multi-level governance theory for a comparative analysis of how the structure and modes of policy coordination shaped subnational policy responses to COVID-19 in Hubei Province, China, and New York State, USA. It was found that both countries showed a hybrid form of vertical and horizontal coordination in COVID-19 responses despite different political systems. Hubei depended more on vertical steering and horizontal support whereas New York took the primary coordinating role while a nationwide strategy was missing. Contingent upon each country’s political legacy, effective multi-level governance in crisis responses should balance national leadership with local autonomy and societal engagement.

Multi-level governance tackling the COVID-19 pandemic in China

Abstract This paper investigates China’s leadership over intergovernmental and private actions in tackling the COVID-19 pandemic and identifies sectors, levels, and roles played. The main argument is that successful control over the pandemic depends on effective and integrated leadership at different levels. The conceptual, theoretical, and analytical framework is given by the multi-level governance theory. Through a case study, the actions adopted in China (n = 374) were mapped from reports issued by the Chinese government, the World Health Organization, and media information. Content analysis was adopted to categorize data. Quantitative and qualitative findings show different roles of actors, as well as usefulness of the multi-level governance to provide fast and complex responses required during the pandemic. In the last section, the conclusion and recommendations for future research are addressed. The lack of studies on the application of multi-level governance in non-democratic regimes especially during a pandemic indicates the relevance and contribution of this study to the literature.

European Union Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region and EU macroregional approach – the analysis of ten years of the strategy implementation

In 2009, the European Union Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region was created in the Baltic Sea Region. This strategy is based on the concept of a macro-regional approach that was initiated in it. The theory supporting the concept is the theory of multi-level governance (MLG). The article analyses the process of implementation of this strategy and the macro-regional approach created in it. The analysis is related to 2019’s 10th anniversary of the creation of the strategy and the macro- regional approach, which was transformed into a concept implemented also in other macro-regions of the European Union