“Theorizing” regime theory: A city-regional perspective

ABSTRACT

This study builds on the weakness of the “theoretical” arsenal of regime theory at the city-regional level where “power over” is a precondition for “power to.” To address this weakness, 2 hypothetical patterns of regime formation are identified in which champions or metagovernors—that is, state and business organizations—make responsive local governments reach out to resistive ones. The resultant “out–in” and “in–out” patterns build on the lens of the core city versus peripheral localities. Because these patterns are supported by in-depth examinations in 2 local authority groupings, wider systematic investigations are called for to complete the theorization process.

Acknowledgment

The author thanks the Journal of Urban Affairs and the anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments and timely communication.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Abbas Ziafati Bafarasat

Abbas Ziafati Bafarasat completed his PhD in Planning and Landscape at the University of Manchester. His research and teaching interests consist of environmental psychology, urban form, transportation planning, community development, collaborative strategy making, and regional governance. At the Technical University of Dortmund, he is investigating city-regional plan making and governance in Germany funded by the Frtiz Thyssen Foundation.