Regional development and post-communist politics in a Czech region

Myant, M and Smith, SO 2006, 'Regional development and post-communist politics in a Czech region' , Europe-Asia Studies, 58 (2) , pp. 147-168.

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Abstract

This article links post-communist politics with regional development through an investigation of the formulation of strategic plans at various levels. This is an important activity for compliance with procedures essential to accessing EU financial support, and beyond that, it has significance for the investigation of political relationships. The dominant conclusion is that the communist period and the post-communist transformation left distinctive features that created barriers to the emergence of the 'standard' EU pattern and therefore justifies continued use of the 'post-communist' label. In particular, this is exhibited in a disjointed structure of regional and local administration with weak cooperation between levels. EU prescriptions and involvement have in some respects accentuated the isolation of levels from each other. This article argues that the standard interpretation of the concepts of social capital and partnership needs to be clarified. Above all, it becomes clear that there needs to be recognition and acceptance of the conflicting nature of many relationships and of the bargaining and compromises lying behind a regional strategy and its implementation. The article thereby adds to the literature that has warned against some over-enthusiastic interpretations of social capital and related concepts as providing an unambiguous basis for a region's development.

Item Type:	Article
Themes:	Subjects / Themes > H Social Sciences > HX Socialism. Communism. Anarchism Subjects / Themes > H Social Sciences > HM Sociology Subjects outside of the University Themes
Schools:	Schools > School of Humanities, Languages & Social Sciences
Journal or Publication Title:	Europe-Asia Studies
Publisher:	Routledge Taylor & Francis
Refereed:	Yes
ISSN:	09668136
Depositing User:	H Kenna
Date Deposited:	13 Jan 2009 16:07
Last Modified:	27 Aug 2021 22:04
URI:	https://usir.salford.ac.uk/id/eprint/1079

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