Place Leadership and Governance in the Anglo-Scottish Border (Borderlands)

This collaborative research project examines the emergence of an innovative approach to local economic development strategy, place leadership and devolved governance in a geographically peripheral and predominantly rural subregion straddling the Anglo-Scottish Border. The area has, until recently, experienced a lack of focus in respect of territorial development policies and management yet comprises 10% of the UK’s land mass with a population of over one million. Borderlands has a common history, and cultural identity and has shared policy challenges such as limited diversification from traditional rural sectors, low pay, outmigration, ageing population and poor public transport, accessibility and broadband connectivity.

Distinctively, from the perspective of understanding transborder leadership and governance, this area does not represent a boundary between two sovereign states, rather it is an important boundary found within a single unitary state, the United Kingdom. On one side of this border (Scotland) there has been a devolved constitutional arrangement presenting challenges for those wishing to promote cross border business and economic development activity.

The focus of our research centres on the manner in which local leadership and partnership working has contributed to an increased awareness and understanding of the challenges faced in this type of ‘internal’ borderlands area. Specifically how local transborder leadership and partnership processes working in tandem with the actions of key national politicians and civil servants was successful in securing resources and organisational capacity for the area from two quite separate regional development funding regimes achieved in the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal.

Distinctively, from the perspective of understanding transborder leadership and governance, this area does not represent a boundary between two sovereign states, rather it is an important boundary found within a single unitary state, the United Kingdom. On one side of this border (Scotland) there has been a devolved constitutional arrangement presenting challenges for those wishing to promote cross border business and economic development activity.

The focus of our research centres on the manner in which local leadership and partnership working has contributed to an increased awareness and understanding of the challenges faced in this type of ‘internal’ borderlands area. Specifically how local transborder leadership and partnership processes working in tandem with the actions of key national politicians and civil servants was successful in securing resources and organisational capacity for the area from two quite separate regional development funding regimes achieved in the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal.