Mapping the cross-border cooperation ‘galaxy’: an exploration of scalar arrangements in Europe

Author(s)
Jiannis Kaucic, Christophe Sohn
Abstract

The development of cross-border regionalism in Europe has given rise to a multitude of academic works focussing on the pattern, signification and evolution of cross-border cooperation. Most previous studies have, however, focused on individual cross-border cooperation initiatives as units of analysis and neglected their spatial relation to other initiatives. By mapping the perimeter, activity, geographical type, scale and spatial relations of 209 initiatives, the current paper provides an updated and more nuanced overview of the geography of cross-border cooperation in Europe. The cartographic exploration from a rescaling perspective reveals the varying accumulation, scalar focus and activity of cross-border cooperation across Europe and leads to the identification of different forms and evolutions of scalar arrangements constituted by their overlapping perimeters of action. The distinction between nested, overlapping and complex arrangements suggests that different scalar processes are involved in the ongoing structuration of cross-border cooperation, and calls for better consideration of these multi-scalar dynamics in future research.

Organisation(s)
Department of Geography and Regional Research
External organisation(s)
Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research
Journal
European Planning Studies
Volume
30
Pages
2373-2393
No. of pages
21
ISSN
0965-4313
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1080/09654313.2021.1923667
Publication date
05-2021
Peer reviewed
Yes
Austrian Fields of Science 2012
507015 Regional research, 507013 Regional geography
Keywords
ASJC Scopus subject areas
Geography, Planning and Development
Portal url
https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/685a2a78-f4b6-4e1f-a4d1-cf0cc132569a