How do small nations cooperate? An action research framework for Wales and the Basque Country

Against the backdrop of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Welsh and Basque Governments in 2018, this article introduces a multiscalar and transdisciplinary social sciences action research framework that emerged from a workshop held in May 2023. The workshop engaged stakeholder...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Igor Calzada
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2024-12-01
Series:Regional Studies, Regional Science
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/21681376.2024.2311099
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1846114516759216128
author Igor Calzada
author_facet Igor Calzada
author_sort Igor Calzada
collection DOAJ
description Against the backdrop of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Welsh and Basque Governments in 2018, this article introduces a multiscalar and transdisciplinary social sciences action research framework that emerged from a workshop held in May 2023. The workshop engaged stakeholders from both sides and is part of the broader ongoing project. This project seeks to address the main research question, ‘How do small nations cooperate?’ through the exploration of transregional cooperation and mutual learning between Wales and the Basque Country. The structure of the article is as follows: First, it commences with an introduction defining ‘small nations’, presenting the main research question, articulating two related aims, outlining three primary methodological goals and providing a broad context for these two small nations within the framework of their MoU. Second, following a brief description of each small nation, the article concurrently develops the action research methodological framework while analysing findings stemming from workshop discussions between stakeholders of Wales and the Basque Country. They addressed three intertwined territorial scale challenges: Macro, examined through devolution and fiscal federalism perspectives; Meso, explored through social innovations in urban spaces in Cardiff (SPARK) and Bilbao (ASFabrik); and Micro, investigated through grassroots innovations. Finally, the article concludes with an action research and policy agenda. It suggests one operational research question per territorial scale as the conclusion of this article, offering a response to the main research question. The conclusion acknowledges limitations and outlines future research and policy pathways for this ongoing project.
format Article
id doaj-art-4f43c7424e264124b64f525daddaf668
institution Kabale University
issn 2168-1376
language English
publishDate 2024-12-01
publisher Taylor & Francis Group
record_format Article
series Regional Studies, Regional Science
spelling doaj-art-4f43c7424e264124b64f525daddaf6682024-12-20T09:37:14ZengTaylor & Francis GroupRegional Studies, Regional Science2168-13762024-12-011118710210.1080/21681376.2024.2311099How do small nations cooperate? An action research framework for Wales and the Basque CountryIgor Calzada0WISERD (Wales Institute of Social and Economic Research and Data), Civil Society ESRC Centre, SPARK (Social Science Research Park), Social Science Department, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UKAgainst the backdrop of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Welsh and Basque Governments in 2018, this article introduces a multiscalar and transdisciplinary social sciences action research framework that emerged from a workshop held in May 2023. The workshop engaged stakeholders from both sides and is part of the broader ongoing project. This project seeks to address the main research question, ‘How do small nations cooperate?’ through the exploration of transregional cooperation and mutual learning between Wales and the Basque Country. The structure of the article is as follows: First, it commences with an introduction defining ‘small nations’, presenting the main research question, articulating two related aims, outlining three primary methodological goals and providing a broad context for these two small nations within the framework of their MoU. Second, following a brief description of each small nation, the article concurrently develops the action research methodological framework while analysing findings stemming from workshop discussions between stakeholders of Wales and the Basque Country. They addressed three intertwined territorial scale challenges: Macro, examined through devolution and fiscal federalism perspectives; Meso, explored through social innovations in urban spaces in Cardiff (SPARK) and Bilbao (ASFabrik); and Micro, investigated through grassroots innovations. Finally, the article concludes with an action research and policy agenda. It suggests one operational research question per territorial scale as the conclusion of this article, offering a response to the main research question. The conclusion acknowledges limitations and outlines future research and policy pathways for this ongoing project.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/21681376.2024.2311099Small nations; social sciencesWalesBasque Country; policy; action research; social innovation; transdisciplinary
spellingShingle Igor Calzada
How do small nations cooperate? An action research framework for Wales and the Basque Country
Regional Studies, Regional Science
Small nations; social sciences
Wales
Basque Country; policy; action research; social innovation; transdisciplinary
title How do small nations cooperate? An action research framework for Wales and the Basque Country
title_full How do small nations cooperate? An action research framework for Wales and the Basque Country
title_fullStr How do small nations cooperate? An action research framework for Wales and the Basque Country
title_full_unstemmed How do small nations cooperate? An action research framework for Wales and the Basque Country
title_short How do small nations cooperate? An action research framework for Wales and the Basque Country
title_sort how do small nations cooperate an action research framework for wales and the basque country
topic Small nations; social sciences
Wales
Basque Country; policy; action research; social innovation; transdisciplinary
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/21681376.2024.2311099
work_keys_str_mv AT igorcalzada howdosmallnationscooperateanactionresearchframeworkforwalesandthebasquecountry