Barnett, I; (2008) Europeanization at the urban level: What role for Europe in Bristol's 'multi-level' governance? Doctoral thesis , UCL (University College London).

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Abstract

Since the late 1980's the EU has taken an increasingly influential role in urban issues. Through a series of initiatives, it is argued that urban institutions are able to access a number of resources including information and financial support. Europe has potential to drive innovative governance through its promotion of cohesion, competitiveness and community engagement. Proponents of Europe's role in urban issues argue that Europe's engagement in urban issues provide "added value" in ways that national programmes cannot. The added value refers mainly to innovation, policy advancements, and improvements to institutional structures. In order to scope the added value, this paper explores the concept of Europeanization of Bristol's governance structures. This paper takes a holistic view of Europe and does not seek to isolate individual urban programmes. Rather, this paper focuses on the interplay of a plethora of initiatives that have been present in Bristol over the last decade or so. In order to understand the role of Europe, the paper considers Bristol's institutional setting and suggests that the governance structure is saturated by a number of competing and overlapping roles for urban actors and recommends rationalisation of its players. It is then explained how Europe intends to add value to the urban cause, before identifying a number of factors that limit the potential role for Europe in Bristol, and outlining possible ways to address these. In particular, the paper considers that the role of the nation state and the strategic leadership in Bristol as limiting factors. The paper concludes by investigating the potential impact of EU expansion in terms of its effect on Bristol. It is suggested that increased membership has influenced Europe's approach to urban policy and that this could have a profound effect on Europe's role in Bristol and that the opportunity for maximum European engagement may have been missed. Key Words: EU Urban Policy, governance, Europeanization, added value, nation state, future European policy, Bristol.

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