Intergovernmental Dynamics in Britain and Belgium: (Non)-Hierarchical Policy Coordination in a Centrifugal Environment.

In this paper we seek to explain IGR in Britain (with a focus on Scotland) and Belgium, and, respecting the general theme linking the papers of this panel, we also wish to consider the extent to which intergovernmental interactions in both countries have assumed a 'non-hierarchical' character. We define IGR as patterns of centralregional (vertical) or inter-regional (horizontal) interaction between different (levels of) government(s) within a state with a view of co-ordinating issues of mutual concern.i Furthermore, our paper analyses policy-coordination in three different settings: a devolved setting (Britain), a constitutionally federalized setting (Belgium) and a three-tiered EU setting (insofar as we also consider to what extent these regions interact with the European Union). We hypothesize that devolution or federalism as well as the interaction of either setting with the EU influences the nature of IGR and the capacity of the centre to engage in hierarchical policy co-ordination. ..PAT.-Unpublished Manuscript [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]