Restructuring Regional and Local Economies

George Blazyca is Professor of Economics and European Studies in the Paisley University Business School and co-ordinator of the University-wide Centre for Contemporary European Studies.

• Contents: Introductory Overview: Transforming (worn out) industrial dynamos into strong regional economies - a comparison of the west of Scotland and Upper Silesia, George Blazyca and Andrzej Klasik; Regional problems, regional policy and regional well-being - what have we learned in recent years?, Mike Danson. Economic Transformation and Restructuring - From Heavy Industry to Weightless Economy?: Can regional policy meet the challenge of regional problems in Poland?, George Blazyca, Krystian Heffner and Ewa Helinska-Hughes; Polish regional policy and the problems of Upper Silesia after the first transformation decade, Andrzej Klasik and Krystian Heffner; The economic restructuring of the west of Scotland 1945-2000: some lessons from a historical perspective, John Foster. Social Partnership and Regional Economic Development: Urban policy, 'Modesty' and 'Misunderstanding': on the mythology of 'Partnership' in urban Scotland, Chik Collins; Building regional development capacity in Upper Silesia - problems and progress, Malgorzata Czornik and Krzysztof Wrana; Social mobilization and local economic development, Janusz Hryniewicz; Society in transition - social aspects in restructuring heavy industry regions, Marek Szczepanski. Stimulating Enterprise: SMEs and regeneration - a comparison between Scotland and Poland, Mike Danson, Ewa Helinska-Hughes and Geoff Whittam; Enterprise development in Upper Silesia - a difficult path in regional restructuring, Bogumil Szczupak; Enterprise development: Lessons for enterprise and enterprise clusters from Scotland's experience of regional policy, Mike Danson and Geoff Whittam. What Role for FDI?: Foreign direct investment in Scotland: the Silicon Glen experience, Alistair Young; Foreign direct investment in Upper Silesia - experience and lessons, Adam Drobniak; Index.

’This book provides a novel and thoughtful comparison of the debilitating processes of economic decline and reorganisation in two old industrial regions of Western and Eastern Europe. It also offers critical insights into the various urban, regional and industrial policy responses of government. The analysis and lessons it draws will be of interest to readers throughout Europe as the continent becomes increasingly integrated and regional disparities become more severe.’ Ivan Turok, Glasgow University, UK ’This is a highly readable volume providing an interesting, informative and up-to-date comparative assessment of regional restructuring in West Scotland and Upper Silesia...The book should be essential reading for both students and specialists in regional development with an interest in policy transfer between Western and East-Central Europe.’ John Bachtler, University of Strathclyde, UK ’...intriguing...deserves a wide audience...’ Geography ’Given the considerable changes facing the EU, this is a very timely book...the editor and the contributors to this collection of essays should be commended for providing us with an exemplary in-depth study of two traditional manufacturing regions, their economic and historical legacy, the process of transformation and the institutional and political context within which policy has sought to adds problems of seismic job losses, technological change and structural shift in the nature of industrial organization.’ Urban Studies