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2. Environmental Protection and Climate Change Budgets of Metropolitan Municipalities
- Author:
- Nurhan Yentürk, Berkay Hacımustafa, Yakup Kadri Karabacak, Ezgi Ediboğlu Sakowsky, and Işık Baştuğ
- Publication Date:
- 01-2023
- Content Type:
- Policy Brief
- Institution:
- Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation (TESEV)
- Abstract:
- This study firstly aims to classify the environmental protection and climate change (EPCC) goals stated in the 2022 performance programs of the 14 metropolitan municipalities (MM) with the highest expenditures in Turkey and their affiliated institutions (AF) (water and sewerage departments and transportation administrations) according to mitigation, adaptation, waste, and other environmental goals and to examine the budget allocated to these targets. The study, also, evaluates the pros and cons of the budgets allocated by the 14 metropolitan municipalities to mitigation, adaptation, waste, and other goals and develops concrete policy recommendations for areas in which budgets should be increased/decreased.
- Topic:
- Climate Change, Environment, Governance, Crisis Management, Sustainability, Public Spending, and Municipalities
- Political Geography:
- Turkey, Middle East, and Mediterranean
3. Environmental Inequality in Industrial Brownfields: Evidence from French Municipalities
- Author:
- Charlotte Bez, Michael Ash, and James K. Boyce
- Publication Date:
- 03-2023
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- Political Economy Research Institute (PERI), University of Massachusetts Amherst
- Abstract:
- Recent research on environmental inequality has extended its focus from ongoing pollution to legacy pollution by examining the geography of industrial brownfields, defined as nonproductive, contaminated land. This article is the first extensive brownfield analysis for a European country from an environmental inequality perspective, exploiting the political momentum in France where brownfield restoration has become a national priority. In doing so, we combine data on over 7,200 industrial brownfields from the 2022 geodatabase ‘Cartofriches’ with socio-economic variables at the municipality level. We demonstrate communities with higher percentages of foreign-born and unemployed persons are disproportionately more likely to be located near brownfields. The social gradient increases significantly in communities that host many brownfields, the so-called hotspots. There is an inverted U-shaped relationship with income, with a positive correlation until the 75th percentile (C23,700 annually). These findings are robust to different controls, including across urban and rural areas, though with regional differences. Further, we also account for the location of noxious industrial facilities sourced from the E-PRTR database to show the existence of cumulative impacts of environmental risks. Our analysis provides crucial entry points for restorative environmental justice considerations and has important implications for Europe’s just transition and cohesion policies.
- Topic:
- Environment, Inequality, Pollution, Industry, and Municipalities
- Political Geography:
- Europe and France
4. El espacio público como bien común. Seguridady convivencia ciudadana
- Author:
- Vicenç Aguado i Cudolà
- Publication Date:
- 06-2023
- Content Type:
- Journal Article
- Journal:
- Journal on International Security Studies (RESI)
- Institution:
- International Security Studies Group (GESI) at the University of Granada
- Abstract:
- El espacio público constituye elámbitopara el uso y disfrutegeneralde todas las personas, en el ejercicio de sus derechos y libertades. Sin embargo, la regulación tradicional se ha orientado a concebirlo desde unas coordenadas esencialmente productivas, situación que ha llevado a la exclusión de la pobreza, su criminalización y estigmatización. En este sentido, deben enmarcarse las políticas de tolerancia cero, fruto del marco teórico propiciado bajo la metáforade las “ventanas rotas”, como fundamento de la represión de las infracciones de baja intensidad, así como el marco jurídico de las ordenanzas de convivencia ciudadana. En el presente trabajo se defiende la necesidad de configurar el espacio público en el marco de una ciudad de los cuidados, construyendo políticas públicas que permitan recuperar la ciudad para el conjunto de la ciudadanía. En este sentido, adquiere relevancia la configuración del espacio público, no solamente desde la idea de propiedad o titularidad públicaque comporta el dominio público, sino también desde su concepción como bien común que permite la participación de la ciudadanía en su gestión. La asunción de responsabilidades de la ciudadanía, de forma compartida con la Administración, puede constituir un instrumento para que el espacio público constituya un entorno seguro y respetuoso con el ejercicio de derechos y libertades. Se propone dotar de contenido concreto al derecho al espacio público como manifestación del derecho a la ciudad, que permita dar herramientas a la ciudadanía para garantizar su funcionalidad.De forma correlativa, la idea de responsabilidad comporta también la asunción de deberes por la ciudadanía que debería incorporar la legislación de régimen local. Asimismo, se examina el papel que pueden llevar a cabo las ordenanzas locales para garantizar este derecho al espacio público. Por último, se alude a la experiencia que se está implementando en los municipios de los agentes cívicos como medios que pueden contribuir a la realización de este derecho al espacio público.
- Topic:
- Regulation, Cities, Municipalities, Public Security, Public Space, and Coexistence
- Political Geography:
- Global Focus
5. Cooperation Between Municipalities and Civil Society for Local Democracy
- Author:
- Itır Akdoğan
- Publication Date:
- 10-2022
- Content Type:
- Special Report
- Institution:
- Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation (TESEV)
- Abstract:
- Given the fact that almost all ecological, economic, political, and social problems around the world are essentially urban issues today, the democratization of urban governance is becoming even more vital of a concern. In order to be able to speak of democratic local governance, all stakeholders of the city are expected to be involved in urban government. One way to achieve this is to plan, implement, and monitor partnerships between municipalities and civil society in a way that strengthens local democracy. When thinking of cooperation with the public sector, civil society organisations (CSOs) in Turkey still tend to think of the municipalities first. In reality, these kind of partnerships tend to be generally far from democratic due to different political, legal, technical and cultural barriers. The analysis and discussions in this report examine the legal framework regarding cooperation between municipalities and CSOs, the policy trajectory in development plans, the factors that support and hinder cooperation, as well as efforts undertaken to strengthen it, in particular TESEV’s Empowering Civil Society for a More Democratic Local Governance Project, which the foundation carried out within the scope of the European Union’s Partnerships and Networks for Enhancing Cooperation Between the Public Sector and CSOs funding program.
- Topic:
- Civil Society, Governance, Democracy, and Municipalities
- Political Geography:
- Turkey and Middle East
6. The role of local governance in achieving political stability: A joint public-private effort towards sustainable development
- Author:
- Pranish Desai
- Publication Date:
- 11-2022
- Content Type:
- Special Report
- Institution:
- Good Governance Africa (GGA)
- Abstract:
- Improving local governments' performance is vital because it is the governance sphere that is closest to local communities, local businesses, and local economic activities. It is in the best interest of companies operating in municipalities to play an active role in ensuring that their host municipalities can effectively deliver services, maintain infrastructure and plan for the future, thereby catalysing sustainable development. This will not only benefit municipalities and businesses but communities at large.
- Topic:
- Governance, Economy, Political stability, and Municipalities
- Political Geography:
- Africa
7. The Institutional Structure of “New Turkey”
- Author:
- Selim Koru
- Publication Date:
- 02-2021
- Content Type:
- Special Report
- Institution:
- Foreign Policy Research Institute (FPRI)
- Abstract:
- There is a reference book entitled The Republic of Turkey State Institution Guide (Türkiye Cumhuriyeti Devlet Teşkilat Rehberi), published by the Turkey and Middle East Public Governance Institute (Türkiye ve Orta Doğu Amme İdaresi Enstitüsü). It begins with the highest institutions in the legislature, executive, and judiciary, then moves down to the presidency, parliament, prime ministry, and high councils, breaking them up into page-long summaries, with an institution logo and official title, along with their mandates, budgets, current leaders, and international associations. There are impartial or independent institutions, such as the supreme election council and the central bank; local administrative structures, such as city and municipal governates; oversight institutions; government-owned for-profit businesses; and “professional organizations qualified as government institutions.” Akin to the United States Government Manual, this book is meant to be a compact picture of Turkey’s government. If you are working in the municipality of the city of Adana and someone from the “Presidency of the Turkey Water Institute” asks for an appointment, you might reach for this book to learn about that institution. If you ever wonder when the “Privatization High Council” was founded, page 33 will tell you it was on November 27, 1994, under law “4046/3 md.”
- Topic:
- Government, Domestic Politics, Institutions, and Municipalities
- Political Geography:
- Turkey and Middle East
8. Georgia’s Fertile Crescent: Marneuli Municipality
- Author:
- Aleksandre Kvakhadze
- Publication Date:
- 01-2021
- Content Type:
- Special Report
- Institution:
- Georgian Foundation for Strategic International Studies -GFSIS
- Abstract:
- The recent Covid19 pandemic has disrupted Georgia’s economy and social life. Among the regions suffering most from these disruptions is Marneuli municipality. During the first wave in the spring of 2020, the Georgian authorities introduced a strict lockdown in Marneuli and Bolnisi municipalities. Several weeks of lockdown resulted in local farmers coming out in protest at being unable to sell their agricultural goods, an event which attracted the attention of the Georgian media. Other affairs in Marneuli that have received extensive media coverage are tensions or violent acts accompanying electoral campaigns, and the series of bride kidnappings and arranged marriages occurring in the rural communities of the region. The remainder of regional developments tend to be neglected by the national media, meaning wider Georgian society knows little about the social, political and cultural aspects of the region. This limited knowledge creates fertile soil for the forming of various stereotypes and clichés about the local multiethnic population. In fact, Marneuli municipality has been witnessing very dynamic ethno-political processes of late. Moreover, the region has big potential for further economic development, and a unique cultural heritage accommodating different ethnicities, among them Azerbaijanis, Georgians, Armenians, Greeks, as well as several religious communities. Marneuli also represents an important regional transport junction connecting Georgia with Azerbaijan and Armenia.
- Topic:
- Agriculture, Economics, Rural, Economic Development, COVID-19, and Municipalities
- Political Geography:
- Eurasia, Caucasus, and Georgia
9. Municipal Development Policy in Germany: Current Status and Prospects
- Author:
- Christopher Wingens, Paul Marschall, and Eva Dick
- Publication Date:
- 01-2021
- Content Type:
- Policy Brief
- Institution:
- German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS)
- Abstract:
- German municipalities are getting increasingly involved in development policy work in Germany and abroad, with the nature of that involvement becoming ever more diverse. However, very little is known about the background or the type of these activities. Against this backdrop, the German Development Institute / Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungspolitik (DIE) has conducted a study of municipal development policy (MDP) in Germany. Financed by the Service Agency Communities in One World (SKEW) of Engagement Global, this research drew upon a previous study carried out by DIE in 2009 (Fröhlich & Lämmlin, 2009) with the aim of identifying the current status of and trends in development for this policy area. To this end, DIE collaborated with the German Institute for Development Evaluation (DEval) to conduct a survey of municipalities throughout Germany. In addition, semi-structured qualitative interviews were held with representatives of municipalities and relevant national and federal-state institutions. As the results show, involvement in MDP on the part of German municipalities is increasing in the context of enabling national policies and changing frameworks for international cooperation (e.g. 2030 Agenda). Large municipalities engage far more often in development policy than small municipalities. The latter often focus on low-threshold activities with fewer requirements for project management, such as the promotion of fair trade. In a number of cases, small municipalities carry out projects based on inter-municipal cooperation. MDP covers many different topics, from information and education work to diverse forms of partnerships with municipalities in the Global South. The number and variety of stakeholders involved in the municipal administration partnerships are increasing, along with the functions they carry out. Municipalities serve as implementing agents, facilitators and networkers. They are partly motivated in their international work and corresponding activities by self-interest. Their involvement, for instance, may allow them to take on international responsibility or increase their appeal as an employer to new recruits. Development policy is a shared responsibility of the German national government, federal states and municipalities. MDP is a voluntary municipal activity and is thus not practised everywhere. Human resources are often insufficient and the required knowledge is difficult to obtain. In some cases, municipalities consider the expenditure associated with the management of MDP projects to be too high. Nonetheless, municipalities make a key contribution to transnational sustainability policy through their work, most especially by enabling global objectives to be localised and/or contextualised. One of the specific benefits of MDP is its proximity to citizens and direct contact with local stakeholders in Germany and abroad. However, when measured using conventional metrics and indicators for development cooperation (such as Official Development Assistance, ODA), the municipal contribution is still insufficiently discernible. It is important to continue providing support to municipalities, with as little red tape as possible, in order to fully exploit the potential MDP has in municipalities that are already involved in this work and those which are not yet involved.
- Topic:
- Development, International Cooperation, Sustainability, and Municipalities
- Political Geography:
- Europe and Germany
10. Paz desde lo local. La fase veredal del PDET en El Bagre: voz sin decisión
- Author:
- Sara Vélez Zapata
- Publication Date:
- 11-2019
- Content Type:
- Policy Brief
- Institution:
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Estudios sobre Desarrollo (CIDER), Universidad de los Andes
- Abstract:
- Este artículo analiza la fase de formulación veredal de los Programas de Desarrollo con Enfoque Territorial (PDET), desde el enfoque crítico del giro hacia lo local y aporta evidencia empírica sobre el papel de los actores comunitarios que conforman lo local en dicho proceso. El análisis se enmarca en la literatura académica nacional e internacional sobre construcción de paz, que busca resaltar la importancia de la participación comunitaria en los procesos e iniciativas que tienen como objetivo la construcción de escenarios de futuro compartidos en los cuales la violencia no sea la protagonista. La pregunta de investigación es: ¿qué condiciones explican el nivel de participación de la formulación del PDET en la etapa veredal en el municipio de El Bagre (Antioquia)? Para ello, se realiza un estudio de caso, a través del rastreo de procesos. Tal rastreo permite afirmar que la fase de formulación del Pacto Comunitario para la Transformación Regional corresponde a un proceso participativo de inclusión simbólica, en el que los actores comunitarios tuvieron voz, pero no poder de decisión.
- Topic:
- Local, Peace, Economic Development, Territory, and Municipalities
- Political Geography:
- Colombia