Studying Multi-level Governance. Examples from French Translations of the Structural Funds

The term ‘multi‐level governance’ synthesizes the overlapping nature of the European Union and implicit theories of EU‐state‐subnational interdependence. Although stimulating as an overriding framework, the concept’s explanatory powers are not self‐evident. Using illustrations from implementation of the structural funds within three French regions, this article endeavours to operationalize multi‐level governance by concentrating upon what it could help to study and what it might contribute in terms of analysing change. A case is made for focusing research upon variations in patterns of governance through developing a rapprochment between the study of public action and that of political representation