Periodic Reporting for period 1 - CBC-ETHOS (Does Cross-border Cooperation relate to a Humanist-ETHical cOde of valueS? Theorizing the institutionalization of a cross-border governance humanist ethical code.)
Reporting period: 2018-09-01 to 2020-08-31
I examined the cross-border micro-regional level to see whether CBC governance is characterized by the kind of decision-making that transcends the different and particularistic interests of member states for the common good, hence realizing a well-functioning CBC ethical governance. Through CBC-ETHOS I argued that to achieve this aim it is necessary to focus not only on the economic dimension of CBC but also on the ethical side of it. A preliminary general finding of my project is that cross-border actors need to face considerable constraints that at times, hamper the operationalization of ethical values.
I found that official EU CBC documentation, supported by the data collected through qualitative research (fieldwork research based on face-to-face interviews) has highlighted the importance of ethical values in creating an efficient CBC governance. Hence the focus was to define and implement values such as subsidiarity, responsibility, gratuiteness, consensus linked to obedience and trust, promoted by a feeling of empathy among the actors that are engaged in CBC. My analysis has provided evidence that though there are rules for responding to a particular grammar of conduct, CBC is often dominated by conflicts of interests among the actors involved in CBC, which can lead to the predominance of particularistic interests. Hence, the fundamental ethical value to promote the common good of the CBR as a whole is hampered.
The questions addressed in this research contribute to clarifying whether CBC values lead to transnationalism. Transnationalism has been theorized as a specific kind of governance network that is underpinned by central ethical values such as sincerity in efficiently implementing joint action for the CBR as a whole; openness in pursuing common goals for the common good; responsibility for operationalizing EU CBC rules and trust among actors at different governmental and non-governmental levels. It has emerged that this trust is based on an awareness that national interests should be transcended in the name of a cross-border regional good (Eberlein and Kerwer, 2004; Hakli, 2009; Hall, 2008).
However, my analysis of both Interreg activities and the EGTC-GO shows that CBC is still perceived and pursued as an international and intergovernmental activity that mainly involves national entities or their representatives. Accordingly, it still mainly responds to national political aims and benefits, rather than the overall common good of the CBR. Hence, member states’ interests are placed in front of joint cross-border aims. As this international approach is predominant in CBC, a top-down process leads these activities. Cross-border governance addresses residents of cross-border regions as mainly consumers of CBC outcomes, not active agents who participate in these activities. It has also emerged that one of the main problems for the operationalization of an effective CBC ethical governance is the change in the composition of CBC actors (who are mainly political actors that generally take nationalist political decisions rather than cross-border ones). Nevertheless, we can see a slow process of change, thanks to new legal bodies like the EGTC, which provides alternative ways to approach CBC that could respond to expectations for CBC ethical governance. However, there is a need to evaluate these new legal bodies which are still in the experimental phase.
I found that official EU CBC documentation, supported by the data collected through qualitative research (fieldwork research based on face-to-face interviews) has highlighted the importance of ethical values in creating an efficient CBC governance. Hence the focus was to define and implement values such as subsidiarity, responsibility, gratuiteness, consensus linked to obedience and trust, promoted by a feeling of empathy among the actors that are engaged in CBC. My analysis has provided evidence that though there are rules for responding to a particular grammar of conduct, CBC is often dominated by conflicts of interests among the actors involved in CBC, which can lead to the predominance of particularistic interests. Hence, the fundamental ethical value to promote the common good of the CBR as a whole is hampered.
The questions addressed in this research contribute to clarifying whether CBC values lead to transnationalism. Transnationalism has been theorized as a specific kind of governance network that is underpinned by central ethical values such as sincerity in efficiently implementing joint action for the CBR as a whole; openness in pursuing common goals for the common good; responsibility for operationalizing EU CBC rules and trust among actors at different governmental and non-governmental levels. It has emerged that this trust is based on an awareness that national interests should be transcended in the name of a cross-border regional good (Eberlein and Kerwer, 2004; Hakli, 2009; Hall, 2008).
However, my analysis of both Interreg activities and the EGTC-GO shows that CBC is still perceived and pursued as an international and intergovernmental activity that mainly involves national entities or their representatives. Accordingly, it still mainly responds to national political aims and benefits, rather than the overall common good of the CBR. Hence, member states’ interests are placed in front of joint cross-border aims. As this international approach is predominant in CBC, a top-down process leads these activities. Cross-border governance addresses residents of cross-border regions as mainly consumers of CBC outcomes, not active agents who participate in these activities. It has also emerged that one of the main problems for the operationalization of an effective CBC ethical governance is the change in the composition of CBC actors (who are mainly political actors that generally take nationalist political decisions rather than cross-border ones). Nevertheless, we can see a slow process of change, thanks to new legal bodies like the EGTC, which provides alternative ways to approach CBC that could respond to expectations for CBC ethical governance. However, there is a need to evaluate these new legal bodies which are still in the experimental phase.
I published articles in refereed High Rank Journals: 1) Nadalutti, E. (2020): Is cross-border cooperation an on-going process that could help boosting a cross-border ethical governance?’. In: Journal of Common Market Studies, available on-line, https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/jcms.13043(opens in new window) DOI: 10.1111/jcms.13043. (D1.3). 2) Nadalutti, E. (2020): The ethics of cross-border cooperation and its values. In: Region & Cohesion, available on line, https://www.berghahnjournals.com/view/journals/regions-and-cohesion/10/2/reco100204.xml(opens in new window) DOI: WP1(opens in new window).
I published 2 book chapters in edited books. One chapter in collaboration with Mr Martin Guillermo Ramirez (Secretary general of the Association of European Border Regions) in the co-edited book Bendelac Gordon, L. y Guillermo Ramírez, M. “La cooperación transfronteriza para el desarrollo”, Madrid: Los Libros de la Catarata, 233-249, with the chapter “La cooperación transfronteriza en el Sudeste Asiático analizada desde un enfoque ético humanístico” which is available at https://www.catarata.org/libro/la-cooperacion-transfronteriza-para-el-desarrollo_95238/(opens in new window). The other one, “An ethical code of cross-border governance: what does the European Union say on the ethics of cross-border cooperation?”, in the edited book for Routledge “Borderless worlds - for whom? Ethics, moralities and (in)justice in mobilities” (2018).
I chose the JCMS because it is one of the most well known high rank journal in Social Political Studies. This can give me more visibility, expecially now that I am actively looking for finding a permanent academic position. And this emerges from the comments I am receiving to very comeptitive grant applications I sent, that mention my publication in the JCMS. In all my applications I got very high scores and the reviewers invited me to re-submit the applications. And while I have to re-work on some aspects of my CV, the all reviewers unanimously agree that my publications are excellent. Moreover, I started 2 main joint porjects with collegues at the University Cergy in Paris and the University of Goteborgs that are going to further develop CBC-ETHOS by bringing the theoretical framework I developed for the micro-regional level to the macro one.
I chose the Regional and Cohesion journals for its interdisciplinary caracther. And this choice is paying, since I am going to start teaching a course in September at the ICP in Paris.
The chapters book are important in order to consolidate the academic and professional relation with academic and policy making bodies.
In brief, this choice was due to professional reasons. We are living in very hard times, especially in the job market. There is the need to be competitive. Hence on one side I strengthened my publications with the publications in these journals. On the other, I have tighted the links with policy making bodies.
I published 2 book chapters in edited books. One chapter in collaboration with Mr Martin Guillermo Ramirez (Secretary general of the Association of European Border Regions) in the co-edited book Bendelac Gordon, L. y Guillermo Ramírez, M. “La cooperación transfronteriza para el desarrollo”, Madrid: Los Libros de la Catarata, 233-249, with the chapter “La cooperación transfronteriza en el Sudeste Asiático analizada desde un enfoque ético humanístico” which is available at https://www.catarata.org/libro/la-cooperacion-transfronteriza-para-el-desarrollo_95238/(opens in new window). The other one, “An ethical code of cross-border governance: what does the European Union say on the ethics of cross-border cooperation?”, in the edited book for Routledge “Borderless worlds - for whom? Ethics, moralities and (in)justice in mobilities” (2018).
I chose the JCMS because it is one of the most well known high rank journal in Social Political Studies. This can give me more visibility, expecially now that I am actively looking for finding a permanent academic position. And this emerges from the comments I am receiving to very comeptitive grant applications I sent, that mention my publication in the JCMS. In all my applications I got very high scores and the reviewers invited me to re-submit the applications. And while I have to re-work on some aspects of my CV, the all reviewers unanimously agree that my publications are excellent. Moreover, I started 2 main joint porjects with collegues at the University Cergy in Paris and the University of Goteborgs that are going to further develop CBC-ETHOS by bringing the theoretical framework I developed for the micro-regional level to the macro one.
I chose the Regional and Cohesion journals for its interdisciplinary caracther. And this choice is paying, since I am going to start teaching a course in September at the ICP in Paris.
The chapters book are important in order to consolidate the academic and professional relation with academic and policy making bodies.
In brief, this choice was due to professional reasons. We are living in very hard times, especially in the job market. There is the need to be competitive. Hence on one side I strengthened my publications with the publications in these journals. On the other, I have tighted the links with policy making bodies.
I have opened a new field of research in border studies that includes, besides Political Science, Humanities and Philosophy. From an scientific academic perspective, this kind of research is going to fill a gap in the literature that is going to have promising potential scientific outcomes. First, to better understand border issues and therefore to explain them from an economic, political as well as ethical angle. Second, to better understand what are the aims the Europan Commission has in promoting cooperation among its member states. CBC-ETHOS is helping me to open a new field of research. Presently I focused on the micro-regional level, but my next step for further developing my career is to use the findings obtained through CBC-ETHOS is to work on a new project that focuses on the macro-regional level. Hence I have already submitted several proposal in order to obtain external funds as the Humboldt research programme, EUTOPIA? FRIAS COFUND.
At the policy level, I am sharing the results of my research with DG Regio representative in order to contibute to write brief policies in order to improve CBC in Europe.
At the policy level, I am sharing the results of my research with DG Regio representative in order to contibute to write brief policies in order to improve CBC in Europe.