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"Multi-level plus multi-actor: Co-operative governance in the European Union"

Falkner, Gerda. (1997) "Multi-level plus multi-actor: Co-operative governance in the European Union". In: UNSPECIFIED, Seattle, WA. (Unpublished)

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    Abstract

    This paper aims to shed light on an area where particularly far-reaching changes in the participation of non-state actors occurred during the 1990s: EC social policy. There, we witness some signs of what was called neo-corporatism or 'social partnership' at the national level, i.e. a decision modus based on the collective agreement of organised interests and on their participation in governance and social guidance as co-responsible 'partners' (Schmitter 1981). This development is embedded in other changes in governance: the move towards cooperative public-private governance is only the most prominent aspect. The process of change in EC social policy concerned basically all characteristic elements of a 'system of governance' (Kohler-Koch). Thus, innovations occurred on the levels of: 1) belief systems about appropriate principles of action (shared responsibility between the European and the national levels with horizontal and vertical subsidiarity principles); 2) actor constellation (a few privileged interest groups are incorporated in EC decision-making on public policies); 3) decision-making routines (very specific processes are established); and 4) boundaries (territorial exclusion of the UK; functional exclusion of various aspects of social policy). This contribution will first outline the traditional patterns of EC social policy and briefly analyse failed efforts towards more co-operative governance patterns during the 1970s and 1980s. Only when a major change in EC social policy was believed inevitable during the 1991 IGC, the employers agreed to participate in a quasi-corporatist modus of governance. The changes in EC social policy governance brought about under the Maastricht Treaty will be outlined in detail before their practice shall be discussed . Subsequently, the changes will be put into the wider perspective of European governance.

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    Item Type: Conference or Workshop Item (UNSPECIFIED)
    Uncontrolled Keywords: Non-state actors.
    Subjects for non-EU documents: EU policies and themes > EU institutions & developments > institutional development/policy > historical development of EC (pre-1986)
    Countries > U.K.
    EU policies and themes > Policies & related activities > political affairs > governance: EU & national level
    EU policies and themes > Policies & related activities > social policy > general
    EU policies and themes > EU institutions & developments > institutional development/policy > decision making/policy-making
    Subjects for EU documents: UNSPECIFIED
    EU Series and Periodicals: UNSPECIFIED
    EU Annual Reports: UNSPECIFIED
    Conference: European Union Studies Association (EUSA) > Biennial Conference > 1997 (5th), May 29-June 1, 1997
    Depositing User: Phil Wilkin
    Official EU Document: No
    Language: English
    Date Deposited: 14 Mar 2007
    Page Range: p. 18
    Last Modified: 15 Feb 2011 17:23
    URI: http://aei.pitt.edu/id/eprint/2577

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