Evolution of place-based governance in the management of development dilemmas: long-term learning from Małopolska, Poland

Abstract

In this paper, we reflect on the evolution of place-based governance from a longterm (15 year) study of rural development initiatives undertaken in a region of Poland as part of its accession to the European Union. We decompose the recursive process of institutional learning arising from initiatives for heritage preservation and rural economic development. In our analysis, we elaborate a typology of unavoidable development dilemmas that must be explicitly managed in order to allow place-based governance to effectively harness the cultural value, social context, and developmental needs of certain locales or landscapes. Although creating and sustaining local value remain contingent on broader realities of governance, proactive management of these dilemmas can help prevent many of the usual contestations around goals and identity from becoming intractable in later periods. Our proposed approach to enabling place-based governance emphasizes conflict recognition and engagement as important complements to more common prescriptive models of governance.

How Are Historical Villages Changed? A Systematic Literature Review on European and Chinese Cultural Heritage Preservation Practices in Rural Areas

“…Concerning businesses in the case study villages in Europe, small local businesses were moderately present [49,51,54,55]. Small-scale, family-run businesses indicate the economic sustainability of local societies [55,56].…”

“…In Latvia and Slovenia,, heritage management includes analyses and strategies spontaneously developed by citizens that have been encouraged to help shape heritage communities [49,50]. The case of Wisniowa, Poland, showed that rural heritage preservation and development was merely a process of conflict resolution by reconciling stakeholders [51]. A value-based, people-centered approach was also carefully tested in the Ruritage project.…”

“…In the European context, municipalities have been the main government bodies to intervene directly in heritage preservation and management processes. In Italy, the municipality of La Morra, in the province of Cuneo, Piedmont, updated its strategic town plan in accordance with the UNESCO guidelines and to involve communities [52].In Wisniowa, Poland, the municipality was active in leading preservation and renovation projects [51]. In France, municipalities, with several special committees, are entitled to apply for labeling for their villages to boost tourism development [21].…”

Arguments based on biocultural diversity to cease abandonment of traditional agricultural systems: Lessons from Poland

“…Targeted support schemes are support from local and central governments for concepts promoting traditional local agricultural practices, small industrial facilities (such as watermills), local household products, services promoting local craft, husbandry, or traditional production techniques for produce, including their commercialisation (Feuer et al 2021).…”

Determining and quantifying the historical traces of spatial land arrangements in rural landscapes of Central and Eastern Europe

“…They should be protected, mainly by preserving their characteristics. With these resources identified, local governments gain new tools to perform their statutory obligations and implement solutions to stimulate the development in these areas, for example 22 . Identification of places where cultural heritage assets are located is vital for sustainable rural development.…”