This paper draws on the results of an EU research project into the sustainable management of coastal ecosystems in the southern Mediterranean. The paper focuses on the implications of the governance systems in Morocco and Tunisia for the effective management of coastal tourism. It asks the question, to what extent can coastal tourism be developed and managed in a sustainable and integrated way in countries with centralised governance systems and a deficit of local democracy? The work develops a theoretical framework drawing on literature in the field of sustainable tourism management and integrated coastal management (ICM), plus Kooiman's sociopolitical theory of governance. One of the key elements of ICM has been the importance of involving local communities in the management of coastal resources. The paper builds on the questions posed by Sorensen who queried how ICM would apply in non-democratic states. The research contrasts two sites in Morocco and Tunisia and identifies key stakeholder groups and the key issues which need to be addressed through management plans and governance frameworks. The paper draws conclusions which will have wider implications for the sustainable development of coastal tourism, relating to governance systems, power relationships, democratic processes and local participation.

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Caffyn A. and Dahlström M. (2005) Urban–rural interdependencies: joining up policy in practice, Regional Studies 39 , 283–296. ‘Urban’ and ‘rural’ are commonly used in an oppositional fashion. Authorities and agencies have similarly developed policies for development and regeneration in Britain with little cross‐referencing. This paper argues that there are benefits to be gained by taking an integrated urban–rural approach to regional development and by focusing on interdependencies and commonalities rather than on differences. Policy documents at the European, national and regional levels are increasingly stressing interdependencies and the move towards regionalization adds to the shift in emphasis towards functional regions rather than to town and country. The paper reports primary research in England into the scale and scope of joint urban–rural collaboration in practice.Urban–rural collaboration, Regional development, Policies, Partnerships, Local authorities, England, Collaboration urbano–rurale, Développement régional, Politiques, Partenariats, Administrations locales, Angleterre, Zusammenarbeit von Stadt und Land, regionale Entwicklung, Bestrebungen, Partnerschaften, Ortsbehörden, England, Colaboración urbana–rural, Regional development, Políticas, Asociaciones, Autoridades locales, Inglaterra, JEL classifications: P11, R11, R58,

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National Parks in England and Wales are increasingly under pressure from a wide range of leisure and recreation activities. The 1991 Edwards Report stressed the need for 'quiet enjoyment' of such special landscapes and there has been increasing concern about the loss of tranquil rural areas. This paper reviews the approaches the eleven National Parks take to conserving their more wild and remote areas and the designation of 'quiet areas'. It goes on to analyse the varied terminology used to de ne both 'quiet areas' and 'quiet' recreational pursuits. Finally the paper investigates the proposed management responses which aim to balance the sometimes con icting purposes of conserving environmental quality while promoting understanding and enjoyment of the special qualities of National Parks. A twin axial model of the dimensionality of management response is proposed and further research questions are identi ed.