COMPETENCES, CRACKS, AND CONFLICTS - REGIONAL MOBILIZATION IN THE EUROPEAN-UNION

Over the past 5 years, a new and unexpected form of interest represent ation has developed in the European Union: subnational governments tha t mobilize directly in Brussels. The authors propose explanations for this phenomenon, drawing on theories of public choice, resource mobili zation, and muitilevel governance. The first set of hypotheses is conc erned with the material and cultural resources that may induce a subna tional government to organize in the European arena The second set of hypotheses explains regional representation as an outcome of overlap p ing competencies, tensions, and conflicts in a system of multilevel go vernance. Logistic analysis of the probability of regional representat ion provides support for the second set of hypotheses. The authors fin d that subnational representation is positively associated with the de gree of overlap between the competencies of subnational and supranatio nal governments and with the political distinctiveness of a region and the relative strength of citizens' regional identity.