Original scientific paper
Thin and Thick Europeanization of Polish Local Politics and Policy Making
Paweł Swianiewicz
; Department of Local Development and Policy, Faculty of Geography and Regional Studies, University of Warsaw, Poland
Abstract
The article concentrates on top-down dimension of Europeanization and discusses impact of EU integration on the policies formulated and implemented by Polish local governments. Its analytical framework refers to Börzell and Risse’s concept of the levels of Europeanization distinguishing between absorption, accommodation, and transformation as well as to Radaelli’s concept of thin and
thick learning process. The empirical base of the paper is based on the results of research projects concerning: (i) urban regeneration programmes in Polish cities, (ii) local government policies on pre-school education, (iii) local government beneficiaries of various Operating Programmes financed by the EU’s structural funds. The article discusses the impact on administrative structures, goals of local policies, as well as styles of policy preparation and implementation. In terms of the impact on the styles of policy making, the analysis includes the impact on strategic management, partnership style of policy preparation and implementation,
and the role of public consultation. The conclusion is that the level of
absorption is the most frequently found form of adaptation. However, sometimes changes initiated as plain absorption gradually evolve into deeper transformation of local politics.
Keywords
Europeanization; Poland; local government; local politics; policy making; policy implementation; structural funds
Hrčak ID:
129599
URI
Publication date:
4.3.2014.
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