International Connections for Local Government Sustainability Initiatives: Networks Linking Detroit and Windsor

ABSTRACT:

How do international border cities interact with one another about sustainable development? Existing research suggests international networks play a role in linking cities in a global dialogue about sustainability. Within individual cities, local networks including government agencies and nongovernmental organizations also play a role in sustainability discussions. This research suggests both perspectives on networks can inform the study of how international border cities approach interaction about sustainable development. Detroit and Windsor are examined as a case study. Interviews with government officials and nongovernmental organizations in both cities illuminate how Windsor and Detroit approach sustainable development in different ways. Social network analysis is used to identify organizations bridging the border between Canada and the United States. The research offers new propositions about how networks contribute to economic, environmental, and social policy coordination in international border regions.

Notes

Because this research discusses both networks and social network analysis, some distinctions should be made. Networks are often organized when governments, nongovernmental organizations, and members of the public work together on public problem solving (Goldsmith & Eggers, ; Mandell, ; Sørensen & Torfing, ). Some scholars specifically study the management of these networks and how they can be used for public problem solving (e.g., Agranoff & McGuire, ). The research on city sustainability tends to refer to networks, but has not yet engaged the conceptual distinctions or empirical findings from the study of public management networks. Social network analysis examines the social relationships among actors (Wasserman & Faust, ). This paper uses social network analysis as a method to study policy networks in urban sustainability. In the future, but not in this paper, more careful integration of the public management network literature might also help advance the study of cities and sustainability.

Selin and VanDeveer () also encourage attention to the linkages among existing institutions working on environmental policy. Their empirical focus is European air quality institutions, but their argument can be applied to the debate on urban sustainability. In brief, various institutions may work on urban sustainability problems. Analysts would benefit from understanding linkages among these institutions in order to discern how policy development and implementation in one institution influences action in others. In their article, Selin and VanDeveer describe various types of linkages.

ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability boasts a wide range of activities in both Canada (www.iclei.org/canada) and the United States (http://www.icleiusa.org/).

The recorded interviews ranged from 19 to 76 minutes in length, with an average interview time of 37 minutes. One additional interview was completed but not recorded. In this interview, notes were taken to document ties with other organizations for social network analysis, but other observations about sustainable development are not included in the qualitative analysis.

Pendants are excluded from the network graph for two reasons. First, as a practical consideration, removing pendants makes the network graph easier to read. Second, all pendants did not participate in a research interview and were only mentioned by either the City of Windsor or the City of Detroit. These organizations were invited to participate in the research, but did not respond or declined the invitation. As such, there is a validity concern in presenting them graphically in a policy network with connections to the city, but not other actors, without external verification that they are engaged in sustainability policy activities. Other non-interviewed organizations are displayed in the network, but have multiple connections to other organizations, validating their engagement in sustainability policy discussions. This highlights an opportunity for future research. Collecting data on the complete sustainability network in either city would provide an opportunity to investigate other questions about urban sustainability. Again, this research focuses on ego networks for each city and cross-border connections among organizations identified by the cities.

Bing’s redevelopment initiative was launched in 2010 with support from various foundations. The project has been described as an effort to engage the public in the redesign of city neighborhoods in order to increase efficiency in city service delivery (Gallagher, ). Some interviewed for this project suggest that Detroit Works will be the next important stage in the dialogue on the future of Detroit, while others perceive the initiative to be stalled. Details about the project can be found online: http://www.detroitworksproject.com.

As opportunities for cooperation are identified, those involved with sustainable development must also navigate the individual-level challenges associated with crossing the international border. Some respondents described crossing the border as an easy process, while others described the process as difficult and time consuming. Research in the field of tourism suggests experiences at the Canada/USA border are generally positive, but the formalism of border crossing may deter some from crossing the border (Timothy & Tosun, ).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Eric S. Zeemering

Eric S. Zeemering is an assistant professor in the Department of Public Policy at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC). His research on local government management and policy has appeared in Public Administration Review, State and Local Government Review, Urban Affairs Review and other journals and edited volumes. He is currently working on a book about policy definition and governance relationships for urban sustainability in Baltimore.