Regions and Regionalisation

Abstract

The question of regions and regionalisation appears more and more in the Hungarian press. We established new institutions (e.g. Regional Development Council), the composition of which became the subject of political debate. Building of planning, development, financing and monitoring institutions and professional capacities in regional level is one of the important elements of the requirements of the EU accession. Of course different stakeholders have different opinions about this question and they give voice to it. Today the question of regions and regionalisation is well known.

According to the experiences the image of Central and Eastern European regions and regionalism in Western Europe and the image of Western European regions in Eastern European countries is one-sided and unreal. According to Western European people Central and Eastern European countries are absolute centralised states, where the absence of democracy means total centralisation. However there are idealised conceptions about Western regionalism, democracy in Eastem countries as well. Behind this idealisation can be found some propagandist intentions too. These are models – and demands – to be followed in the institution-building process in Central European countries. The author believes in regionalism, but in a very special one. As a consequence of it counter-arguments of the regionalisation particularly the argument against quick and radical regionalisation are prevailed in the study. In my opinion we, regional researchers know these counter-arguments and it is our duty to answer them before our proposals.