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Multilevel governance (MLG) is the watchword in an increasing number of countries, nowadays, with multiple layers of government given a say in the adoption of political decisions and the allocation of resources. A wide variety of examples can be cited, from strong federal systems to regionally decentralized states. The final decades of the 20th century witnessed the emergence of a new kind of regionalism (the new regionalism) marked by a political (cultural and institutional) structure rather than economic arrangements. The terms used to summarize these factors include internationalization and globalization, reactivation or emergence of regional identities and culture, reinforcement of substate focal points (both local and regional) for economic development, and social regulation and collective action.

Various forms of new regionalism have set the stage for the emergence or reinforcement of institutions that play a part in shaping multilevel political systems, depending on the scope of substate cultural traditions and the presence of social and economic institutions and networks. These substate tiers of government differ regarding the extent of self-government and the existence of successful non-state-wide parties (or strong regional organizations of statewide parties). Regardless of the capacity for self-government, however, regions work as relevant arenas for political decision-making, resource allocation and political debate. Many countries have turned to MLG as a way of organizing political-institutional activity thereby spawning a field for political and social research.

At its core, this book was born of our conviction that MLG is a useful concept for capturing the increasingly complex and shared nature of public decision-making in federal and non-federal systems, especially in the age of global competition. MLG also relates to the notion of asymmetrical federalism or the principle of subsidiarity, according to which political and financial responsibility is conferred on the level of government best able to meet the needs of citizens. And even if these new regionalisms go beyond a functional [18] framework for political life, globalization and the issue of sustainable development should be perceived as an opportunity to create new partnerships between levels of government, civil society and the private sector with the goal of fostering the conditions for better investment and promoting fair and participative projects. Governments should propose treaties, trade agreements and regulations calling for better cooperation between levels of governance, therefore. In this way, MLG is viewed as a system of governance within or between states. The aim of this book, therefore, is to show readers how this concept, within its normative and empirical meanings, can offer an analytical framework for the study of intergovernmental relationships.

The collaborators herein emphasize the cooperative nature of MLG, a strong federalist or functional regional system, and the non-conflictual resolution of policy problems in concurrent political arenas. This book offers a fresh perspective on new means of governance that meet citizens’ needs. The first section explores the concept of MLG and its use in multinational societies, while the second analyzes the issue of trust-mistrust and how it shapes central-regional-local relationships. The third, meanwhile, looks to a new dimension of international relations: the increasing role of substate entities in world debates and trade regulations. The fourth section looks more specifically at how globalization and MLG have reshaped the role and functions of political parties and party systems. Finally, since we are talking about the emergence of a new system of governance, the book studies its effects on the behavior and attitudes of parliamentary representatives.