Political Leadership in a Global Age by Daloz Jean-Pascal;Baldersheim Harald;

Author:Daloz, Jean-Pascal;Baldersheim, Harald;
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Group

The adaptive responses of regional political leaders

In the wake of globalization, the context of public intervention is now characterized by the relocalization of public policies, the fragmentation of the public sector, a partial withdrawal of the national State (Hassenteufel, 1998), competition between cities and territories in the European area. Keeping its strategic role, the State is shifting onto the local leadership some of the policies seeking to ameliorate the social effects of globalization, or to make the territories more competitive (Benoit-Guilbot, 1991).10 But the regions still ask for more autonomy and resources in order to build a proactive development policy.

When a private company decides to set itself up somewhere in a country, the elected officials of this area are inclined to cover all the expenses (infrastructures, fiscal tax credits, etc.), and ensure media coverage of this. Often, no serious evaluation is made as to the positive effects for the territory (local jobs, activity, and local tax incomes). These positive effects are deliberately exaggerated, even when they are actually lower than the new expenses involved in setting up the new company. The area’s local authorities are the victims of a public policy fashion, which is a direct consequence of the influence of globalization, and the “diktat” of the economy (more precisely of the market and the private corporate model).11 The public funds used for such occasions could have more positive effects if they were invested in local development (linked to the local culture, the economic networks of SMEs, the educational, tourist and agricultural resources of the territory) or in the improvement of solidarity between different areas (urban policy, or policy for weak rural zones). But the elected officials “love” TV cameras and need to present the idea that they are doing useful things, acting for the public good:12 the arrival of a big company gives them such an opportunity. In the same way, regional leaders meeting the head of a TNC in his office (which is again proof of the official’s powerlessness) is paradoxically presented as something positive in the regional press – as a good point for the territory.

When the political leaders are already involved with the media with regard to regional development, and when their involvement in economic matters is well-known by the local public opinion, they are unable to change this fact if, sadly, the economic situation becomes less favourable. Now, for a local or regional representative, a big setback or bankruptcy, the relocation or the closure of a factory, which occurs within the boundaries of his constituency, may turn out to be the major event of his/her whole political career.

Employment still remains the key problem, in particular for the semi and unskilled industrial workforce in factories or, also, in service industries – jobs that are directly threatened by globalization. The workers (and their families) are far less mobile than financial assets, and capital. They stay behind but continue voting in the area when employment has gone away.

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