Regionalism from Above, Regionalism from Below: Multi-Level Governance of Higher Education and Research

Abstract

Higher education and research policies appear as fascinating cases to explore the transformations of the State in a globalized economy and society of knowledge. The now classical notion of multilevel-governance appears extremely useful to make sense of policy change in these domains. Higher education and research policies have been transformed, with increasing governing power both to subnational and supranational structures. The elevating role of regions in higher education and research is mirrored by regional dynamics developing worldwide. As a result of regional integration on the one hand and devolution/federalization processes on the other, regions are playing a prominent role in contemporary global politics. The empirical case of knowledge-policy governance can thus contribute to the wider conceptual debate on territorial politics, regionalism and region-building. How have States recomposed their role in the governance of knowledge policies in this context? Strands of literature on the world regions in the globalization of knowledge policies on the one hand and on the territorial politics of knowledge on the other, do not dialogue much together. This panel will propose to connect those works around the notion of regionalism, and open a discussion about how the rise of regions, both subnational and supranational, is a major feature of the transformations of knowledge policies. The panel will explore the facets and implications of higher education regionalism in Europe and elsewhere highlighting the following issues: What are the territorial politics involved in the governance of knowledge policies? What are the features and implications of the higher education multi-level governance structure in Europe? How can the European case inform our understanding of other regions? How can the study of multi-level governance of knowledge in other regions help us better understand the European situation ? How does the case of knowledge policies contribute to the conceptual understanding of regionalism?

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