Cross-border Institutional Thickness: From the Iberian Raia to Galicia- North of Portugal

Abstract

Cross-border cooperation seeks to contribute towards the development of cross-border regions, being a practice enacted by specific institutions and entities. These institutions are territorial actors who have an increasingly fundamental role in the effort towards abating regional asymmetries and in territorial decisions themselves. This article focuses on a cross between the hard and soft cross-border cooperation that these institutions promote. A sketch of the cross-border institutional thickness – understood as the grouping of cross-border cooperation structures active on the border, their interactions and the resulting cooperation ambiance – is attempted. Both institutional capital as well as relational capital will be considered in three contexts: national (Iberian Raia), regional (North of Portugal – Galicia) and local (Chaves-Verín). Using quantitative and qualitative empirical data, a first conclusion is surmised: the cross-border institutional thickness in the Iberian Raia is not homogeneous across this border. Overall, it is thin but under construction. The relational aspects are harder to promote and study, and therefore lacking in attention on behalf of the academic community, but also of the actors that invest and promote cross-border cooperation.