The Open University1

The aim of this paper is to analyse the effects of decentralization on the political careers of regional elites. We observe on the trajectories of the heads of governments of the regions of Spain, France and United Kingdom, focusing on their political careers through multilevel arenas. We ask what are the main career patterns (national or local) and whether there are differences in these patterns by type and evolution of decentralization process. The data analysis reveals the existence of different career patterns, in which local and national experience tend to dissociate, creating different cursus honorum. The institutional structure and timing of the evolution of decentralization also produced differences in the type of careers. In France the regional presidents tend to follow a traditional career pattern, while in Spain are specific territorial trajectories. Furthermore, consolidation of regional institutions seems to contribute to the emergence of distinct political careers for regional leaders