Port gateways in globalization: the case of Antwerp

Abstract

This paper analyses the globalization trends affecting Antwerp as a port city. Mainly, we analyse the public policies implemented at different levels of governance in the new context of globalization (from EU to local level). However, in contrast to other authors, we argue that globalization is both shaped by political decisions and in return imposes new constraints to public policies, notably at the local level. Using the Antwerp case, we show first how EU and regional policies have supported globalization trends by favouring liberalization policies in port matters or by reinforcing local autonomies in urban matters. Second, we show in return how local authorities with growing competences have, in a more competitive and global context, been constrained to answer to this new environment by shifting toward entrepreneurial policies. By reshaping their image or opening the port to investors, the attraction of new investors has been a major objective of urban or port policies in the city of Antwerp. Resumen. Este artículo analiza las tendencias de globalización que afectan Amberes como ciudad portuaria. Principalmente, analizamos las políticas públicas implementadas a diferentes niveles de gobernanza dentro del nuevo contexto de globalización (desde la escala de la UE a la local). Sin embargo, en contraste con otros autores, argumentamos que la globalización viene moldeada por decisiones políticas y que a cambio impone nuevas restricciones en cuanto a políticas públicas, especialmente a escala local. Utilizando el caso de Amberes, primero mostramos como las políticas de la UE y las regionales han apoyado tendencias de globalización, al favorecer políticas de liberalización en materia portuaria, o reforzando autonomías locales en temas urbanos. Segundo, mostramos en cambio como las autoridades locales, al ver aumentadas sus competencias en un contexto más competitivo y global, se han visto obligadas a responder a este nuevo ambiente con un cambio hacia políticas con espíritu emprendedor. Por medio de la reforma de su imagen o la apertura del puerto a inversores, la atracción de nueva inversión por parte de las políticas urbanas o portuarias ha sido un objetivo principal en la ciudad de Amberes.

Reurbanisation: A long‐term process or a short‐term stage?

“…Newly constructed housing at these sites are primarily prestigious upper‐class housing development. Many cities, for example, not only in the United Kingdom but also in other countries like the Netherlands and Belgium, massively invested in their inner cities and in waterfront areas within the last decades, which brought forward the process of reurbanisation as a new trajectory of Europe's urban landscape (Couch et al, ; De Naeyer, ; Van Hamme & Strale, ). We see residential segregation and an increasing concentration of higher income and lower income populations in specific parts of the city or housing market segments. Housing market developments such as (luxury) renovation, upmarket new build housing, and increased displacement of established households from more demanded housing market segments and locations have led to a clearer demixing of different income groups since the late 2000s (Großmann, Arndt, Haase, Rink, & Steinführer, ; Haase & Rink, ).…”

A globalization‐based taxonomy of European regions

“…Prov. Antwerpen and Catalonia reflect very well the patterns of their respective countries, with Antwerp having a balance of GVA and employment growth, due to the restructurings in manufacturing and the search for new roles in the global economy, changing its productive specialization very little but shifting from more traditional to higher value‐added activities in the same sectors (Van Hamme and Strale 2011).…”

“…The next three papers look at Western European cases, starting with Berkshire, Bucks and Oxfordshire, analysed by Grover (2011), an interesting case of a region which does not have a meaning administratively but which still has a precise role in global flows. The paper by Van Hamme and Strale (2011) on the case of Antwerp is appealing also because it analyses a port city, which is by definition influenced by any modification in global trade flows. The paper by Boix (2011) illustrates the case of Catalonia, and concentrates on the theoretical bases and the empirics of its shift from a manufacturing to a more knowledge‐based economy.…”

Successful European regions in a global economy: a synthesis and outlook

“…Having a second Mega too close does not appear to be a positive characteristic, since in the only case where it happens, in Prov. Antwerpen, there is strong complementarity from which the Mega at the higher level appears to benefit more (Van Hamme and Strale 2011).…”