The Importance of Being Connected. City Networks and Urban Government: Lyon and Eurocities (1990–2005)

Renaud Payre

International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, 2010, vol. 34, issue 2, 260-280

Abstract: Abstract The international dimension of cities and their role in inter‐urban markets and inter‐urban competition are now often studied and analysed from the perspective of public policy, urban planning or geography. Yet few studies highlight the political work that goes on in acquiring this dimension. Focusing on an inter‐urban network such as Eurocities sheds light on this work and makes it possible to move away from an analysis of the Europeanization of cities in terms of centre and periphery. In this network, a horizontal form of Europeanization can be observed. The article examines this inter‐urban network as an inter‐urban configuration. The network is based on relationships between city councils, but due to a sort of cluster effect, it becomes more autonomous and — through resources as well as constraints — influences those relationships, indeed influences urban governance. Résumé La dimension internationale et la place des villes dans le marché et la compétition inter‐urbaines sont aujourd'hui des objets bien étudiés à la fois en analyse de l'action publique, en urbanisme ou en géographie. Mais peu de travaux repèrent le travail politique à l'œuvre pour acquérir cette dimension. Le détour par un réseau de villes comme Eurocités éclaire ce travail comme il permet de se défaire d'une analyse de l'européanisation des villes en termes de centre et de périphérie. C'est une européanisation horizontale qui est mise au jour à travers ce réseau. Le réseau de villes est ici saisi comme une configuration interurbaine: il repose sur des relations entre municipalités urbaines mais par un effet d'agrégation, le réseau gagne en autonomie et pèse —à travers des ressources comme des contraintes — sur ces relations voire sur le gouvernement des villes.

Date: 2010
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