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Eurocity: From Political Construction to Local Demand… Or Vice-Versa?

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  • Teresa González Gómez

    (Department of Sociology, Social Work and Public Health, University of Huelva, 21071 Huelva, Spain)

  • J. Andrés Domínguez-Gómez

    (Department of Sociology, Social Work and Public Health, University of Huelva, 21071 Huelva, Spain)

  • Hugo Pinto

    (Centre for Social Studies, University of Coimbra, 3000-104 Coimbra, Portugal)

Abstract

This study presents a diagnostic analysis of the concept of the Eurocity. It aims to compare the initial intentions of the concept with its actual results from the perspective of a sustainable local development approach, particularly assessing the attention given to local governance and its potential for boosting this development paradigm. To this end, a range of internal documents and press reports of the Guadiana Eurocity were analyzed, and 15 in-depth interviews and one focus group were conducted with the main stakeholders involved in implementing local development policy in order to uncover the cognitive structure of their collective discourse and the potentials and expectations of the Eurocity. The results showed that the Guadiana Eurocity seemed to be the cross-border and European integration entity with the most legitimacy among these municipalities for carrying out sustainable local development strategies. Its structure and closeness to residents’ daily lives, however, were not sufficient guarantees of its success.

Suggested Citation

  • Teresa González Gómez & J. Andrés Domínguez-Gómez & Hugo Pinto, 2019. "Eurocity: From Political Construction to Local Demand… Or Vice-Versa?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(22), pages 1-17, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:22:p:6217-:d:284258
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    References listed on IDEAS

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