This thesis investigates an apparent paradox in contemporary urban policy in large European cities: the rise of transnational co-operation between city administrations at the same time as they engage in urban entrepreneurialism - the pursuit of growth policies driven by the perceived imperative of inter city competition. The thesis explores this development in two ways. First, by examining how and why this co-operation is undertaken in major cities, and the factors that shape this involvement. Second, by exploring the implications for wider relations between European cities and particularly the dynamics of urban competition at the transnational scale. These questions are approached through a multi-disciplinary framework that adopts a city-based perspective and is applied through a comparative case study analysis of Munich, Lille and Birmingham. The evidence highlights the important role that national contexts, local political cultures, economic circumstances and spatial considerations play in influencing the form and rationale of co-operation undertaken in these cities. It is evident that cooperation as adopted by city administrations does support entrepreneurial strategies and policies that are underpinned by competitive motivations. However, the nature of this support suggests that it is contributing to a more sustainable, less destructive form of urban competition. It is argued that co-operation can be seen as part of a collective ambition to "grow the market" for major cities in term of economic and related terms. In some respects, this may be associated with new dimensions of territorial competition between large cities and other types of places in Europe. Overall, the research suggests that relations between Europe's major cities, including inter-city competition, are more complex than is often portrayed, and that this is reflected in aspects of urban policy in these places. The thesis findings point to future avenues of research linking the territorial development of the European Union, transnational urban relations and the direction and form of urban policy undertaken by decision-makers in Europe's large cities.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:633070 |
| Date | January 2004 |
| Creators | Barber, Austin Ralph Gray |
| Publisher | University of Birmingham |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
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