The States of Convergence: An Analytical Framework for Understanding Regions in a Period of Economic Crisis

Debates about convergence and divergence are usually framed in relation to the capacity of nation-states to pursue distinctive policies. Pressures of hard and soft convergence and divergence also affect the styles of and rules governing inter-governmental relations; the institutional, material and constructed capacities of sub-national administrations and the reform of regional and local service delivery. In this framing paper, Alistair Cole presents the ‘States of Convergence’ typology as the starting point for understanding the interplay between convergence and divergence pressures, on the one hand, and processes of territorial adaptation and translation on the other.  The typology identifies four distinct forms of policy convergence and divergence. ‘Hard’ convergence is ‘top-down’ in nature. It operates on the basis of clear institutional and policy templates and commitment to ‘download’ these. A soft convergence perspective emphasises the exchange of policy relevant information, benchmarking ‘best practice’ or at least cognisance of other models.  Soft divergence focuses on a specific form of lesson-drawing or policy learning whereby organizations and institutions construct themselves against perceived negative models.  Our final position is labelled hard divergence, which is understood in terms of the persistence of deep underlying structures that pre-shape institutional pathways. Convergence pressures are never simply implemented according to a trans-national template, however; they require strategic and discursive choices that lie more squarely within the realm of human agency.