Regional Development: An Integrated approach? By Frank Gaffkin and Mike Morrissey
From: Local Economy, 2001, Vol 16, No.1. (Published by Pearson Education)
By translating such an agenda locally, the opportunity exists, with a new administration in Northern Ireland to press for an innovative, integrative strategy for the regional economy. The Labour government is committed to the idea of investment-led development and to investing in quality training. In addition, each Labour budget has been redistributive in impact and targeted at economic growth. Both dimensions have been positive for Northern Ireland. The overall policy environment is thus favorable to a new approach. In that respect, five goals have been identified as the components of a vision for regional regeneration - `jobs growth', `strong sub-regional economies', `equitable economic activity and opportunity', a high standard of living' and ` a good quality of life'. While this remains no more than an outline agenda, it nevertheless provides a framework for development in Northern Ireland.
In so doing, the new local administration seek to show an evident link between the principles and aspirations on the one hand, and the policy and programme agenda on the other. In terms of achieving an integrated approach for example, the strategy should indicate which government departments would be responsible for implementing the various parts of the strategy and how a co-ordinated approach can add value to what the departments can achieve by acting separately.
Finally, an important facet of building a coherent and deliverable plan is to work through the networks and partnerships in the region - not simply to listen, or even hear, but also to mobilize in a collective responsibility for delivery. Substantial support for the economic dividend of `institutional thickness' is to be found in the literature on new regionalism. And indeed, whatever their critique of the Shaping Our Future strategy, overwhelmingly participants expressed approval of the proactive, comprehensive and inclusive nature of the consultation process, most acknowledging consequential changes in the final version of the draft strategy. However, it was suggested that the sense of `community ownership' engendered by this process should be sustained right through and into the implementation and monitoring process.
But, this is where we return to our earlier qualification about the social capital in Northern Ireland. At one level, it is impressive in its density and durability. However, there is much of it that is ethnic rather than civic in nature and purpose. Thus, whatever government or professional planners can do to advance the welfare of the region, ultimately there is no substitute for the political will to transcend the unproductive divisions of sectarianism. In short, there can be no vision with such division.
Reference
WRIGHT, F. 1987: Northern Ireland A Comparative Analysis, Chapter 1,Gill
and Macmillan: Dublin. |
