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CROSSBORDER COOPERATION, LOCAL DEVELOPMENT AND THE ENVIRONMENT
Vol. XX, no. 1, 2011 - ISSN 1826-3003
PRESENTATION
Depending on the level of intersecting and overlapping between objective and subjective borders, a local (border) context develops specific functional characteristics; these determine the relationship with the national system, that is the relationship between centre and periphery. The need to enact cooperative cross-border processes is generated in the joint and reciprocal recognition of local contexts about their peripheral condition. Cross-border cooperation (CBC) still remaining a poorly known and complex topic (Gasparini 2008:167), it is key to challenge such complexity, trying to analyse the funding variables and specific characteristics in its European dimension.
This issue of ISIG Journal (no. 1, 2011) aims at providing an original interpretative framework where innovation and creativity are essential features to comprehend the main potentiality of CBC for the sustainable development of a local context, taking into account the new framework of European policies.
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CONTENTS
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Community Strengthening as a result of local and regional cross-border cooperation in Poland byAleksandra Zajac (Institute of Sociology, Warsaw University, Poland)
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This article shall focus on potential benefits which can be obtained from cross-border cooperation by local communities in Poland. Three levels of analysis of local communities assets will be provided: social capital, community capacity and community empowerment and development. Furthermore an attempt shall be made at a sociological analysis of the influence cross-border cooperation may have on sustainable development at local and regional level and its outcomes for local community and its members.
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Enhancement of cross border cooperation through projects conducted by public authorities from Romania and Bulgaria by Ana-Maria Marinescu (Ovidius University, Romania)
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The article attempts to share light upon the last 3 years of experience in improving cross border cooperation on the side of local public authorities at the Romanian-Bulgarian border, by elaborating and implementing EU financed cross-border projects, given the funding opportunities on pre-accession (Phare CBC) and appeared immediately after integration (1st January 2007), under the Objective 3 of the Cohesion policy 2007-2013. Also, it delineates some ideas regarding future priorities of cross border cooperation within local governance framework, considering the stated interests mentioned by interviewed authorities at the Romanian – Bulgarian border.
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The Serbs of Croatia: An example of unsuccessful regional cross-border cooperation by Jelena Milovanoviи (IUIES, Italy)
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Almost 300,000 Serbs left Croatia during the Yugoslav wars and became refugees in neighboring countries, mostly Serbia and place Bosnia and Herzegovina. It’s been 14 years since the end of the war, but the return rate has been very low: only one third of the Serbs returned to Croatia. Considering the characteristic of the region involved, only a trilateral conjoined cross-border approach can be useful in finding a solution to the refugee issue. However, the so far adopted attempts proved to be unsuccessful. This research paper will explore the reasons of such a failure, but it will also emphasize the importance of persisting with a regional cross-border policy in the matter of refugee returns.
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European governance and regional development: The management of the structural funds in Calabria by Rosanna Greco (MA, Tor Vergata University, Italy) and Gabriela Cretu (National School of Political and Administrative Studies, Romania)
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The paper studies the role of the structural funds’ management process in the region of Calabria, Italy, during 2000-2006 programming period by employing a qualitative case study analysis. It attempts to address research questions in regards to the management of the EU structural funds by the regional and local authorities, the possible institutional changes and the contribution of European governance approach in the structural funds’ management. An elaboration on the good governance principles to underline the institutional reform adopted to increase the effectiveness of structural funds implementation and the reform’s success.
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Consequences of the global financial crisis on the Macedonian economy by Aleksandar Kostadinov (Center for economic analysis, R. Macedonia)
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The paper gives an overview on Macedonian economy and on the consequences caused by the global financial crisis on financial sector, industrial production volume, trade and labor market. An attempt to predict future developments of a single economy is very limited at this moment, what is sure for now is that every country in the world is paying a high price for the crisis.
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People-centered governance as the bed-rock of sustainable development by Agugua Augustine Okechukwu (University of Lagos, Nigeria)
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In an assessment of popular development theories, especially anchored on the modernization/ bureaucratic ethos, this paper identifies a major contradiction afflicting mankind on the trails of technological breakthroughs and the flourish of Scientism. The contradictions are espied in such issues as increasing inequality, environmental degradation, and other innumerable vices. Hence the need arises for paradigm shift in public administration as it borders on development drives. The immanent contradictions associated with this trend, is well founded on the current crave for the exiting of the State deriving from the tenet of Western liberalism and the ascendancy of non-governmental institutions in addressing human needs which hardly attends to the common good. Thus, above the premature celebration of the State without its responsibilities, as seen in the 'End of History Thesis' by Fukuyama, the need arises for the State to show good governance through established structures that will ensure that the present population enjoy good life without compromising the right of future generations to do the same; that is, the hallmark of sustainable development. Thus, the paper highlights the view that development is either rooted on the people or it is rooted on nothing. This is the basis on which the paper tried to show good governance as the hallmark of sustainable development.
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Discussing challenges and prospects of climate change policies by Dhananjay Tripathi (Jawaharlal Nehru University, India)
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This paper deals with the issue of climate change discussing various policies and treaties. Arguments are given citing the example of international development assistance, as how climate change never occupied the space of major discourse in the international relations. The question of development assistance is raised and responsibilities of both developing and developed countries are highlighted. The paper also focuses on the possibilities, which can be explored for a better world.
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ECOLOGICAL RESPONSIBILITY: to the Concept Statement by Iryna Kosulya (V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University, Ukraine)
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Environmental crisis is not environmental problem per se, but also social and moral problem. Ecological crisis and climate change are consequence of egoistic behavior individuals as well as states. But there are some regulators, which can constrain natural egoistical bents. They are law and moral, which give us a pillar of responsibility. It’s proposed to use presented theories as a base of social responsibility on individual level as well as on organizational level or national level because individuals are in the base of all levels. Ecological responsibility is considered as a part of social responsibility; the belief in the importance of preserving of the health of the earth and appropriate way of behavior of individuals, organizations, states.
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Nudge towards corporate social responsibility by Ulyana Shtybel (Ivan Franko Lviv National University, Ukraine)
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The paper develops into three parts: the first is a theoretical analysis of the interplay between human behavior and social (ecological) responsibility on different levels, the second is a case study of the global level of corporate social (ecological) responsibility. The third part is about the responsibility in the finance sector and the ethical banking as the main method for achieving social responsibility in the finance sector.
In this work we determine which of these levels has a greater impact on degree of responsibility in society and which is more important for achieving responsibility of business.
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