Cohesion or 'the solidarity that unites'

Our focus is on 'economic and social cohesion and solidarity' and on cohesion policy. As with any policy, a critical evaluation covers four basic questions:
-  How to define cohesion?
-  How to measure cohesion?
-  How to explain cohesion?
-  How to stimulate cohesion?
Joseph Stiglitz wrote 'If you don't measure the right thing, you don't do the right thing. But before measuring the right thing, one must, first of all, define the right or real thing,

1. Regional policy


Striving for cohesion at the regional

The'urban divide' or the 'boundaries within cities' still are a matter of vulnerability and deprivation (Drewe & Hulsbergen, 2006). There is a clear need of cultivating the art of defining urban problems and - above all - a need for social innovations in urban revitalization (Drewe, Klein & Hulsbergen, 2008). By the way, even the banlieues are not devoid of 'creativity' (Dhoquois, 2007).
One can only hope that the European Union, in its fight against poverty, does not neglect the cities and that it  has learned from the URBAN experience. Or will it be just another case of 'running without learning' (Gilbert Fayl)?
'The solidarity that unites' is altogether compatible with John Rawl's principle of social justice: 'to make the worst off group as well off as possible'.

References

Davezies, L. (2008) La Republiques et ses territoires, la circulation invisible des richesses, Seuil, Paris.
Delors, J. (2020) La politique doit etre l'ultime reference, Je erfuse que les banquiers fassent trembler les gouvernements de la zone euro, Le Monde, December 8: 21,
Dhoquois, A. (2007) Banlieues creatives en France, Autrement, Paris.
Drewe, P. (2006) Quo Vadis European Union? Uncertainties ask for scenarios, in A. Kuklinski, & B. Skuza (eds) Turning points in the transformation of the global scene, Oficyna Wydawnicza "Rewasz" & The Polish Association of the Club of Rome, Warsaw: 87-96.
Drewe, P. & Hulsbergen, E. (2006) The 'urban divide' - what role for demography?  Canadian Studies of Population, vol 33.1: 119-136.
Drewe, P. (2008) The URBAN Initiative or the EU as social innovator?, in P. Drewe , J.-L. Klein & E. Hulsbergen (eds) The challenge of social innovation in urban revitalization, Techne Press, Amsterdam: 183-196.
Drewe, P., Klein, J.-L.  & Hulsbergen, E. (2008) The challenge of social innovation in urban revitalization, Techne Press, Amsterdam.
Drewe, P. (2010a) Innovations - a way out of the economic crisis for cities and regions? in A. Kuklinski, E. Malak-Petlicka & P. Zuber (eds) Southern Italy - Eastern Germany -Eastern Poland. The Triple Mezzogiorno?, Ministry of Regional Development, Warsaw: 87-`04.
Drewe, P. (2010b) Innovation: theory and practice (unpublished).
GHK (2003) Ex-post evaluation Community Initiative (1994-1999), Brussels & London (for URBAN II see  
Kuklinski, A., Malak-Petlicka  & Zuber, P. (2010) (eds) Southern Italy - Eastern Germany - Eastern Poland. The Triple Mezzogiorno?, Ministry of Regional Development, Warsaw.
The World Bank (2009) Reshaping economic geography, world development report, Washington, D.C.

Strange enough, the impacts of URBAN have been based on the opinion of national evaluators. No attempt has been made to measure, for example, the number of jobs created for the 15-24 year old .By the way, the top-three impacts were physical improvements, improved socio-economic conditions, and social capital impacts. Lost in verbosity, difficulties in understanding EC documents and procedures by those involved in the program proved to be an important factor hindering success.
In the light of the 'riots' or 'revolts' happening in the French cites in 2005 (and again in 2007), the evaluators were unable to capture what was brewing in Clichy-sous-Bois, Aulnay-sou-Bois and other suburbs. An early warning woulkd have been appropriate as it was possible to detect the underlying structural conditions (although the triggering events are unpredictable). One is left with the feeling that the evaluators ('straight jacketed, by the methodology prescribed by the European Commission?) lacked the discernment and understanding necessary to penetrate the heart of the matter. Maybe in future, the Commission should not only want to prove 'Community value added', but should also be encouraged to investigate bad practice, too.
URBAN has not replaced national efforts, certainly not in the case where national urban policies exist. Where they do not exist, they should be stimulated. It cannot be that the EU has to solve the problems of the banlieue for France or, for example, the problem of waste disposal in Naples. On the other hand, to achieve subsidiarity, also appears to be a problem within member countries. What about the key actors 'close to the ground' and, in particular, those for whom the programs are finally implemented. Citizen participation was probably best catered to by a community- focused approach as practiced in the UK. Overall, a lack of active participation has been a factor hindering the success of URBAN. Hence the 'success story' of citizen participation has to be taken with a pinch of salt.