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Regional development and post-communist politics in a Czech region

Myant, M; Smith, SO

Authors

M Myant

SO Smith



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.

Citation

Myant, M., & Smith, S. (2006). Regional development and post-communist politics in a Czech region. Europe-Asia Studies, 58(2), 147-168. https://doi.org/10.1080/09668130500481287

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date Mar 1, 2006
Deposit Date Jan 13, 2009
Journal Europe-Asia Studies
Print ISSN 0966-8136
Publisher Routledge
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 58
Issue 2
Pages 147-168
DOI https://doi.org/10.1080/09668130500481287
Keywords Asian politics, Russia, former Soviet Union, East European studies
Publisher URL http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09668130500481287


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