The Cultural Dimension in the twinning programmes developed by Cluj-Napoca City Hall
June 6, 2015 Author: Dana Furdui & Andreea Ioana Dumitruţi
The present paper aims to analyse the role played by culture in Cluj-Napoca’s twinning programmes, with an emphasis on the most important elements of these programmes. In this context, the research question is: “Is good governance used in managing these programmes?”, since culture is a dynamic and novel sector. The research topic is therefore defined by the cultural dimension of the programmes and the way in which good governance reflects in the activities implemented and the results achieved.
As methodology we used both the interview and the case study, in order to identify the data relevant for the research. As a result of our research, we concluded that the management and coordination of Cluj-Napoca’s twinning programmes use the model of good governance through efficient coordination of the activities, adequate use of the resources, collaboration with non-governmental organizations, active involvement of the citizens and continuity of activities within the twinning relations.
Key words: Cluj-Napoca, community, culture, partnerships, twinning
The unwanted past and urban regeneration of Communist heritage cities in Central and Eastern Europe. Case study: European Capitals of Culture Pecs 2010 and Maribor 2012
June 6, 2015 Author: Corina Turșie
Since 2010, diverse cities coming from Central and Eastern European ex-communist countries had held the European Capital of Culture (ECoC) title. They had to demonstrate de fulfillment of the two selection criteria: “European dimension” and “City and citizens”. The task of these cities was challenging: while carrying the troubled heritage of past socialist regimes, they aimed to strengthen their belonging to the European cultural and social sphere, to re-narrate their history, to re-invent their image and to regenerate their urban infrastructure. This study verifies the implementation of three distinctive potential strategies of dealing with the unwanted past (de-communization, return to a Golden Age, and Westernization) against two case-studies: two former ECoC cities: Pecs 2010 (Hungary) and Maribor 2012 (Slovenia).
Key Words: European Capital of Culture, communism, unwanted past, memory, regeneration, image.
Coalition-building: the key of success in EU’s intergovernmental negotiations
June 1, 2015 Author: Adina Șerban
Abstract: Coalition formation represents a major feature of the negotiations and decision-making processes in the Council of the European Union and it became a theme of interest for researchers during the EU15 and EU25. This paper analyses the interngovernmental negotiations of the EU on the Multiannual Financial Framework 2014-2020 and aims to present insights on the decision-making process in the EU Council during EU28. This paper focuses on the member states’ coalition-building during the intergovernmental negotiations of the EU and identifies the major coalitions encountered in the EU Council and the premises which lead to the establishment of alliances in the Council. The methodology is based on qualitative methods, namely on content analysis of the relevant EU official documents. Furthermore, to identify the current situation in the Council of the European Union, especially how the alliances are structured, the paper employs a case study –the negotiations of the 2014-2020 Multiannual Financial Framework – and it provides an analysis of the public deliberations on the adoption of the MFF 2014-2020.