On the Cutting Edge: Border Integration and Security in Europe and North America

Within the rich literature on regional integration and immigration, many scholars discuss border issues. Nonetheless, rarely are border areas comparatively examined, despite the fact that they are most exposed to these international phenomena. This paper comparatively analyzes the development of regional politics and economies in border areas in Europe and North America, and its impact on immigration regimes. It responds to three inter-related research questions: 1) How has regional integration affected cross-border cooperation at the sub-national level? 2) How have recent socio-economic transformations related to cross-border cooperation affected migration regimes? 3) How well have border control strategies responded to recent changes in migration regimes? It contends that border integration is actually the most effective means of border control.immigration policy; regional development; immigration policy

«Paz ambiental transfronteriza» como interacción de normas regionales y poder local: Lecciones desde análisis y debates transregionales sobre seguridad hídrica

This article contends that notions of «peace» and «justice» in cross-border water management vary in different world regions. Moreover, it argues that «peace» and «justice» can be explained by analyzing the interaction between «regional» interpretations and implementation of water security norms and local cross-border power structures. «Regional water security» is defined as the normative commitment to provide necessary water resources to communities within world regions. «Power,» which is defined traditionally as «the ability of actors to obtain their objectives despite opposition» is viewed as a function of political entrepreneurialism and opportunity structures. This article derives from a review of the pertinent literatures on «water security» and «water justice,» the two elements of «water peace» as well as scholarship on cross-border water management in different world regions. It discusses water governance within the framework of cross-border politics and comparative regional integration. It also includes analysis of the policy documents and websites of seventeen regional organizations as well as interviews with key actors and local experts on water management in specific cross-border case studies. The article is divided into five sections. Following this introduction, part two examines «water security» and «water justice» in international affairs. Part III then discusses «power» in cross-border water governance debates and addresses the transnational face of water security discussions. Part IV presents a comparative examination of cross-border «water justice» in selected world regions which is followed by theoretical considerations that are addressed in part V, the conclusion. In general, the article emphasizes the need to promote comparative cross-regional research on cross-border water governance in order to examine how «peace,» «security» and «justice» are framed in debates over water resources. Este artículo sostiene que las nociones de «paz» y «justicia» en la administración transfronteriza del agua varían entre diferentes regiones del mundo. A su vez, argumenta que ambos conceptos pueden ser explicados al analizar la interacción entre interpretaciones y la implementación de normas regionales de seguridad hídrica y las estructuras de poder transfronterizas locales. La «seguridad hídrica regional» es definida como el compromiso normativo para proveer el necesario recurso hídrico a las comunidades en las regiones del mundo. El «poder», que es definido tradicionalmente como «la habilidad de los actores para lograr sus objetivos pese a la oposición» se ve cómo una función del emprendimiento político y las estructuras de oportunidad. Este artículo deriva desde una revisión a la literatura pertinente acerca de los dos elementos de la «paz hídrica»: «seguridad hídrica» y «justicia hídrica», así como la investigación sobre administración transfronteriza del agua en diferentes regiones del mundo. Discute la gobernanza del agua dentro del marco de referencia de las políticas transfronterizas y la integración regional comparativa. Incluye además un análisis de los documentos oficiales y sitios web de diecisiete organizaciones regionales junto con entrevistas a actores claves y expertos locales en administración del agua en casos de estudio específicos transfronterizos. El artículo está dividido en cinco secciones. Ulterior a esta introducción, la parte dos examina la «seguridad hídrica» y la «justicia hídrica» en el ámbito internacional. La parte tres discute el «poder» en el debate sobre administración transfronteriza del agua, y aborda el semblante transnacional de las discusiones sobre seguridad hídrica. La parte cuatro presenta un análisis comparativo de la «justicia hídrica» transfronteriza en diferentes regiones del mundo, el cual es seguido por conclusiones teóricas abordadas en la parte cinco. En general, el artículo enfatiza la necesidad de promover investigaciones comparativas transregionales sobre la gobernanza transfronteriza del agua, para analizar como «paz,» «seguridad» y «justicia» están enmarcados en los debates sobre recursos hídricos

Normative coherence for development : What relevance for responsive regionalism?

Motivation The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) call for transformative development rooted in international norms, such as human rights, rule of law and gender equality. Often, however, nation-states do not implement these norms to the extent to which they are envisaged. Against this backdrop, regions have the potential to fill this implementation vacuum. Purpose Without a normative dimension, transformative development risks reproducing traditional economic development. In this special issue we focus on norm implementation in different world regions through the lens of normative coherence for development. Methods and approach The articles in this special issue all use qualitative methods, such as text analysis and in-depth interviews. Given the different regional contexts, each article has its own approach to normative coherence for development depending on the regional normative framework. Findings This special issue indicates that regions are an important interlocutor between the global, national, and sub-national level and, as such, are crucial for implementing the sustainable development agenda. The articles show, however, that to date normative coherence for development has not been achieved due to overriding priorities and technical approaches to policy coherence for development. Policy implications With this special issue we aim to draw more attention to the topic of normative coherence for development and show that policies need to be adjusted in order to reflect the normative dimension of sustainable development.Peer reviewe

Saving the Baby While Discarding the Bathwater: the application of policy coherence for development analysis to payment for watershed services

One of the most debated tools for the implementation of sustainable development is “payment for ecosystem services”, of which “payment for watershed services” (PWS) is one of the most developed. While proponents argue that such payments provide market value to the services that ecosystems provide for development, opponents claim that this approach commodifies the environment and promotes inequalities. This article presents an analysis of PWS programs by applying methodologies based on policy coherence for development (PCD), defined as a policy tool aimed at eliminating incoherence within sustainable development strategies that undermine their effectiveness as well as between such strategies and other policy arenas, which are also considered harmful to sustainability. By employing a PCD methodology, the article aims to identify policy mechanisms that undermine PWS programs so that stakeholders can make adjustments, thus, metaphorically ensuring that “the baby” (PWS) is not discarded with “the bathwater” (policy incoherence for sustainable development)

Diaspora Philanthropy in the Context of Policy Coherence for Development: Implications for the post-2015 Sustainable Development Agenda

Thus far, there has been a dearth of studies that systemically examine the relationship between diaspora philanthropy, the development community and securitised migration regimes. This article addresses this by responding to the research question, “How coherent are securitised migration policies with diaspora philanthropy and the transformative development objectives that characterise the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) agenda?” The analysis is based on the concept of policy coherence for development (PCD). The article compares the simultaneous regionalization and securitization of European Union and United States migration policies and contends that these policy strategies undermine diaspora philanthropy, development partnerships and transformative development. Normative change must be introduced in order to establish coherence between globalized migration policies and diaspora philanthropy objectives. Normative coherence for development can be achieved by introducing principles from the SDG's and the Busan Development Partnership Agreement amongst other international development agendas, into migration policy-making at the national and regional levels

Promoting participative policy coherence for sustainable development Inclusive dialogue through the “pull-push-match” methodology

Policy Coherence for Sustainable Development (PCSD) has promoted sustainability through policy coordination, but to what extent does it respond to the needs of local communities? Scholars of PCSD have acknowledged how it has been considered as an end in itself rather than a means to achieve normative impact. A major limit of PCSD has been its institutionalized nature, as mechanisms for social participation have not been highlighted in implementation strategies. This article addresses this issue. It proposes “pull-push-match” as a methodology for the es-tablishment of participative PCSD. The article, co-authored by a team of researchers and practitioners from Mexico, addresses PCSD in relation to Indigenous communities

Analizando las dinámicas de la paz hídrica interestatal: un estudio de las tranferencias del Huitzilapan a Xalapa

This article examines the political conflict surrounding the interstate transfer of water in the Huitzilapan-Xalapa Aqueduct, from which about 60% of the water resources for the city of Xalapa, state capital of Veracruz, come. This interstate water transfer has eventually lead to political and social conflict based on misinformation about perceived water shortages to Xalapa. The article examines a case in which water officials from Xalapa have apparently complied with guidelines related to procedural, distributive, and ecological justice. Therefore, the article proposes a focus on «justice as responsible (and informed) dialogue» as a central element of procedural justice. The analysis is based on a review of official documents, such as Mexican water laws and the water concession under which this water transfer has occurred, press reviews published in regional newspapers, a field visit and interviews with key stakeholders and researchers mostly in Veracruz state.Este artículo examina el conflicto politico en torno a la transferencia de agua interestatal que se da a través del acueducto Huitzilapan-Xalapa, el cual provee aproximadamente el 60% del agua que requiere la ciudad de Xalapa, capital del estado de Veracruz. Esta transferencia de agua interestatal, en algunas ocasiones, ha originado conflictos políticos y sociales con base en información aparentemente errónea y percepciones de escasez de agua en Xalapa. Este artículo examina un caso en el que los funcionarios del agua de Xalapa parecen haber cumplido con los lineamientos establecidos desde el punto de vista de la justicia ecológica, distributiva y procesual. Por lo que en este trabajo se propone enfocar a «la justicia como un diálogo responsable (e informado)» como elemento central de la justicia procesual. El análisis se sustenta en la revisión de documentos oficiales, tales como las leyes de aguas nacionales y la asignación de agua bajo la cual se ha dado la transferencia, así como revisión de notas de prensa publicadas en periódicos regionales, una visita de campo y entrevistas con grupos de interés clave e investigadores, la mayoría de ellos del estado de Veracruz

Guidelines for Operationalizing Policy Coherence for Development (PCD) as a Methodology for the Design and Implementation of Sustainable Development Strategies

Policy Coherence for Development (PCD) is considered a pillar of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda. It aims to promote whole of government approaches to sustainable development. Despite its prominence in development cooperation discussions, many national development professionals or stakeholders have not heard of PCD, indicating that its effectiveness is significantly limited. This article contends that the impact of PCD has not been maximized because it has been presented as a political objective or a policy tool by multilateral organizations and their member states. Instead, the article argues that PCD should be implemented as a methodology that can be adopted by domestic government and non-governmental actors alike, in order to understand trade-offs and co-benefits within and between policy sectors, thus promoting a participative approach. I-GAMMA is a research project in Mexico that examines data-driven public policy in order to promote PCD. It is based on in-depth reviews of policy documents and interviews with development actors. It is committed to open data, evidence-based policymaking, and collaborative dialogue between academics, government officials, and representatives of civil society organizations in sustainable development discussions. In the results section of this article, the project proposes participative PCD as a methodology for policy analysis through which a plurality of actors can identify mechanisms that either reinforce or undermine sustainable development strategies. This section then applies the methodology to the governance of protected natural areas in Mexico. The discussion section and the conclusions highlight the relevance of this approach for participative policymaking in sustainable development