Italy: A Case for Institutional Performance and Regional Interaction with the European Union Open Access

Abstract

The relationship between levels of institutional performance and the level of regional interaction with the EU is poorly defined. Robert Putnam’s Making Democracy Work: Civic Traditions in Italy examines the varying levels of institutional performance for the twenty regions of Italy. However, few studies show how institutional performance impacts other facets of political behavior. Developing a better understanding of how institutional performance causes interaction with the EU will enhance understandings of why regions interact with the EU and reveal the regional structures that promote the allocation of resources from the EU. This case study investigates if increased levels of institutional performance cause increased levels of interaction with the EU for regions in Italy. Robert Putnam’s measure of institutional performance is the basis for the evaluation of the varying levels of institutional performance for the regions of Italy. The variable of interaction is a combination of indicators. Examination of various levels of interaction from the individual level of analysis to the group level highlights the varying degrees of interaction. This study focuses on individual affinity towards the EU and the number of European Court of Justice cases originating out of the region as a measure of individual levels interaction with the EU. Measures of the group level analysis include the number of Committee of the Regions actions and the number of regional office and staff located in Brussels. This investigation finds that increased levels of institutional performance for regions in Italy cause increased levels of interaction with the EU. The trends found in the case of Italy seem to be similar in other European countries. In order to enhance the parsimony of the causation in question this research requires a comparative analysis of other European countries. Comparing regional interaction across multiple countries in Europe will not only build on the Italian case, but will also enhance the validity and strength of the causation in question.

Table of Contents

Italy: A Case for Institutional Performance and Regional Interaction with the
European Union


TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction………………………………………………………………………………1


Part 1) The Italian Case: Institutional Performance and Regional Interaction……..2
Theory………………………………………………………………………………….....4

Rational Choice Institutionalism

Rent Seeking

Decision Theory

Structural Funds: Incentives for Regional Interaction………………………………..7

Hypothesis …………………………………………..........................................................8
Unit of Analysis

Indicators of the Dependent Variable: Interaction…………………………………...10

Justification of Measurement

Institutional Performance: Background and Indicators……………………………..14

Data: Variation of Regional Interaction……………………………….……………...16

Affinity, Regions and the EU: Self-Identification as European
European Court of Justice: Impacts on Interaction

Composite of Regional Interaction at the Regional Level

Regional Interaction: A Closer Look

Population: What is its Impact?

Italy: A Justified Case?

Future Comparisons?......................................................................................................24


Part 2) S.I.R.E. Addendum…………………………………………………………….26

Introduzione…………………………………………………………………………….26

Umbria: un luogo di curiosità e passione………………………...……………………27

Religione e Spiritualità: uno studio necessario per comprendere l'Umbria………..28

About this Honors Thesis

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School	Emory College
Department	Italian Studies
Degree	BA
Submission	Honors Thesis
Language	English
Research Field	Political Science, General Language, General
Keyword	Regional Interaction with the EU Number of regional office staff Institutional Performance Self-identification as primarily or solely European
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	Moore, Judy Raggi, Emory University Lancaster, Thomas D, Emory University
Committee Members	Palazzolo, Christopher, Emory University Adamson, Walter L, Emory University

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