The turn to city-regionalism in Scotland is a consequence of the policy and political assertion of the importance of cities in the new territorial economy of a devolved state. Moreover, the developmental rationale for city-regions rests on the stronger functional realignment of economic growth, investment, housing and population patterns, and the interaction of diverse flows to realise agglomeration efficiencies. In planning and governance terms, the argument for city-regions involves a layered spatial intervention so as to secure intended institutional efficiencies and sustainable development. In practice, the city-region discourse is dominated by functional linkages and relations in factor markets. This paper questions whether this functional perspective is sufficient in socially reconstructing the cityregion identity. Adopting the concepts of functionalism and representationalism from the place-branding literature, this paper considers what may be learned from a communicative logic that is relatively more sensitive to issues of interpretation
and identity.

The scholarly discourse around place-branding suggests a duality of functionalism and representationalism as critical and necessary dimensions for communicating the qualities of, and sustaining support for, a brand. This paper has argued that the logic of place-branding provides for a relatively more dynamic understanding of nascent city-regional relationships. This article suggests that this approach represents a step-change from the relatively passive functional arguments traditionally associated with connectivity and contiguity in understanding city-regions.

The article suggests that the use made in branding practices of communicative and rhetorical devices provides an important addition to understanding a managed construction of cityregional thinking. This applies both externally in promoting a positive image and identity for the new territory, together with articulating the vision and direction of policy strategies, as well as providing the legitimacy and interpretation for internal consumption across a range of stakeholder interests. Taken together, these external and internal dimensions provide a powerful conduit to communicating change in planning and strategic governance and complement the intended functional outcomes.

University of Liverpool - Department of Civic Design
Deborah Peel (Lecturer), tel. + 44 (0)151 794 3128

01/03/2008

Greg Lloyd and Deborah Peel

research

Urban Policy > Economy knowledge & employment > Urban economy

Competitiveness