Abstract
Multi-level governance has been described as an updated form of governance that began in the early 1990s. The traditional distinction between domestic and foreign politics was eliminated in the same period. This study aims at clarifying the concept of multi-level governance in both the Europeanization literature and the European Union studies. The research question is, What are the definitions, dynamics, characteristics of multi-level governance in both the Europeanization literature and the European Union studies? In methodology, it is a theoretical study that remains on literature review.
TopPortrayal Of The Multi-Level Governance
Multi-level Governance is a new conceptualizing in domestic and the European Union agenda to clarify the methods of the distribution the structural funds within the member states of European Union after the 1988 Regional Policy Reform.
The following the 1992 Maastricht Treaty Multi-level Governance has been evaluated as a model to explain the decision-making process. The origin of the conceptualizing has traced after 1988 reform although, it has relevance to the European integration theories due to the fact that these theories have triggered the emergence of the Multi-level Governance concept. This concept is, on the one hand, closed to the Neofunctionalist theory because of its arguments against the state-centric theory (Marks, Hooghe, & Kermit, 1996), on the other hand, closed to the intergovernmental theory because of its arguments for the indispensable role of the nation-states.
The concept of Multi-level Governance has taken place in the scope of the Europeanisation literature and particularly emphasized the crucial role of the sub-national policies of the policy-making process in the European Union. The early study of the European Union has mentioned the two-tier political structure that consists of the national and supra-national level. After 1980’s a three-stage political structure has been indicated- European level, national, subnational- a new political form that has an interaction with each stage. Three stage political structure discourse has highlighted the resistance to the scant usage of the Multi-level Governance. However, conventional two aspects of the two-tiers political structure have reflected the reaction to the Regions of Europe discourse. All these points refer to the theoretical dimension of Multi-level Governance. In literature, this concept has examined in various political areas with empirical supported studies.
Key Terms in this Chapter
Political Participation: Taking part in the process of the decision making and conducting the public policies.
Sub-National Level: The phase of the decision making and conducting of public policies by parliament and executive units of the region within a member state in the European Union.
Community Method: A process and procedure of decision making in the European Union that highlights the dominant role of supra-national government.
Supranational Level: The phase of the decision making and conducting of public policies by parliament and executive units of the European Union.
Open Method of Coordination: A process and procedure of decision making in the European Union that emphasize the coordination combining with supranational government and national, sub-national governments.
Europeanization: Adopting and regulating the non-European structure to the European Union pattern.
National Level: The phase of the decision making and conducting of public policies by parliament and executive units of member states in the European Union.