Multi-­‐level governance theory Sample Clauses

Multi-­‐level governance theory. The theory of multi-­‐level governance (Xxxxx and Xxxxxxxx, 2004; Xxxxx, Xxxxxx and Xxxxxxxx, 2005; Xxxxxx and Xxxxx, 1996; Xxxxxx and Xxxxx, 2001; Marks, 1996) highlights a route to the EU for subnational governments as well as encouraging EU integration from the bottom up. ‘Instead of the bifurcated model of politics across two autonomous levels, these theorists conceptualize the EU as a single, multilevel polity’ (Marks et. al., 1996, p. 167). Xxxxx provides some early qualitative and quantitative research to understand the pathway and motivation for local governments in Brussels seeking to influence and lobby the EU system (Xxxxx et al., 1996, pp. 164—192). As the EU’s power and decision-­‐making properties rest with the member nation-­‐states, local areas as primary actors, technically, do not individually play a direct role in EU level decisions. Regardless, the level of official activity by local areas has continued to increase. As of 2014, several hundred local areas are officially registered as lobbyists within the EU system and on the EU transparency register (Xx.xxxxxx.xx, 2014). The potential for funds may have lured local authorities to Brussels, but it might not be enough to sustain long-­‐term involvement (Xxxxx et al, 1996). However, other benefits prove worthy of their time at the EU level: these include access to a broader network of both cities and the private industry, particularly around new economic areas of finance and technology as well as providing a forum to address local issues as part of a regional network to share solutions (Xxxxxxxxx and Xxxxxxx, 1997, p. 3). While local areas have not found the ‘silver bullet’ to revitalising their heavy manufacturing, they have found access, influence, an opportunity to join the new economy, and a network of EU and global cities also seeking the same solutions. Acting together in coordinated efforts and cross-­‐national partnerships, subnational government have significant effect on supranational policy, particularly at the EU level. ‘At the core of multi-­‐level governance is the argument that collective decision-­‐making and the independent role of supranational institutions are eroding the sovereignty of national governments in Europe’ (Bache, 1998, p.22). The research of Xxxxx et al (1996) reveals that the motivation is not based on the limited potential of funding being secured by local areas, as the chance of securing funding is far outweighed by the costs of establishing staffed offic...