Stadtregionale Kooperationen - Neue Steuerungsansätze im Vergleich

authored by

Ludger Basten, Rainer Danielzyk, Michael Lobeck, Claus C. Wiegandt

Abstract

In view of changing relationships between cities and their surrounding areas, debates on the concept of urban regions have re-emerged in the recent past. In many such regions politics and planning have sought a new balance between municipalities while improving the competitiveness of the region as a whole. With established structures often hindering rather than supporting appropriately regional solutions, new forms of regional cooperation have emerged. This paper looks at innovative solutions in four German urban regions. It presents an analysis of different political/organisational solutions and themes of cooperation before three common problem areas are discussed. It emerges that successful urban regions establish cooperation at several levels of scale and scope enabling joint action while maintaining municipal autonomy. Yet analysis also reveals that there is no ideal model for all urban regions, since traditions of cooperation and political culture are highly idiosyncratic.

Organisation(s)

Institute of Environmental Planning

Type

Contribution in non-scientific journal

Journal

Berichte zur Deutschen Landeskunde

Volume

81

Pages

297-312

No. of pages

16

ISSN

0005-9099

Publication date

2007

Publication status

Published

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Geography, Planning and Development, General Earth and Planetary Sciences