Mazovia Quo Vadis? The Panel of International Experts Antoni Kuklinski.
Year: 2009

The article is an introduction to the international experts panel, that took place during the conference "World Europe Poland: the Future of the Mazovia Region" organized in May 27 28, 2009. Main questions and problems that the panelists were focused on are presented. Possible approaches to the Mazovia Region development, as the region functioning within the system of European Union regions, are outlined. There are also three trajectories of this region development suggested for research: trajectory of OECD, World Bank, and transnational corporations. An issue of development dynamics of regions like Mazovia was raised. It was suggested to look at the Mazovia Region as a classical region experiencing dual mode development. The concept of diagnosis of the Mazovia Region transformation in the period of 1990 2010 is proposed and the question about the impact of the global crisis on the Mazovia Region development conditions is raised. In the prospective dimension development scenarios for the Mazovia Region for the period of 2010 2030 are proposed to discuss. In the last part of the article remarks on internal and external factors that impact development processes are presented.  The Panel should try to find the proper methodological framework how to answer questions of this type. Some elements of this framework are presented in the contributions [Kuklinski 2009]2 prepared by the Regio Futures Programme developed under the auspices of the Polish Ministry of Regional Development. We are however interested in a grand panorama of global experiences in this field. The panel of eminent international experts Mazovia Quo Vadis? is organized in the framework of a brainstorming conference initiated and implemented by the Regional Self Government of the Region of Mazovia (Mazowieckie Voivodeship) Hotel Victoria Warsaw May 27 28. 2009. The hosts of the panel and the conference will sent to you a comprehensive set of materials analyzing the past and the future of Mazovia. This Introductory paper is prepared in order to start a trajectory of the Pre Conference discussion and a network of thinking leading to the preparation of a grand study Mazovia Quo Vadis? Experiences and prospects of the years 1990 20303. In the very initial stage of our 1 The most important part of the Mazovian Region is the Metropolitan Area of Warsaw. 2 Both items will be sent to you upon your request addressed to Mr Adam Czajka adam.czajka@mrr.gov.pl 3 The Mazovia Quo Vadis? Study should test the framework of the Corpo Regio Programme as proposed by Antoni Kuklinski compare [Kuklinski, Pawlowski 2005; Strzelecki 1999] Please see also the place of Mazovia in the European System of Regions [Jakubowska et al. 2007; OECD 2008a, 45] Please see the transformation of Mazovia [Kuklinski, Skuza 2003, 367; 2006, 261] 86 MAZOVIA QUO VADIS? THE PANEL ON INTERNATIONAL EXPERTS Antoni Kuklinski discussion let us concentrate our attention around the following questions and problems: I. Mazovia in the system of regions of the European Union. II. Mazovia as an element of the global scene. III. The Regional dynamics of Mazovia. IV. Mazovia as an classical example of a dual Region. V. The diagnosis of the transformation of Mazovia in the years 1990 2010. VI. Mazovia in the dramatic years of the great global crisis 2008 2012. VII. The scenarios of the development of Mazovia in the years 2010 2030.  The development of Mazovia as an object of endogenic and exogenic strategic reflexion. This is only a preliminary list of questions which may emerge in our Panel discussion May 27. 2009, 3 6 p.m. Mazovia in the system of regions of the European Union In the volume The future of European Regions [Jakubowska et al. 2007] we find an Appendix characteristics of European NUTS 2 regions. The Mazovian Office for Regional Planning is preparing an updated version of this Appendix with a particular attention to the place of Mazovia in this system. In the next stages we will develop an innovative typology of European Regions which will add same new cognitive dimensions in relation to the conventional approaches of the European Commission and OECD. The Eurostat is concentrating its attention only in the field of structural information, this means in our field the landscape of regional structures in Europe. The huge domain of interregional flows of persons, commodities, capital, knowledge, innovation and information is almost non existent in Eurostat and in the statistical information published at the national level. Europe is however not only a system of structural regions, it is also a system of nodal regions. This route of enquiring will be outlined in the presentation of Andrzej Wierzbicki, who will introduce some reflexions and materials related to Mazovia as an nodal region. Mazovia as an element of the global scene There are three trajectories to see Mazovia as an actor of the global scene. a) The trajectory of OECD b) The trajectory of the World Bank c) The trajectory of the transnational corporations. The Tajectory of the OECD We have a splendid publication of OECD competitive cities in the global economy [OECD2006] which is an useful source to see the global framework in the comparative evaluation of the performance of the Warsaw Metropolitan Region. 87 MAZOWSZE Studia Regionalne nr 3/2009 II. Samorzad An important dimension of the OECD trajectory is the Territorial Review [OECD 2008b] of Poland where we find the presentation of the performance of Polish Regions including Mazovia (mazowieckie) The trajectory of the World Bank The best geopolitical and geophilosophical background to see the Mazovian Region in a global perspective is the World Bank Development Report 2009 and especially the chapter Reshaping Economic Geography [World 2008] Mazovia has no choice, it must be an actor of the global scene of the XXI century. The World Bank Report is the best presentation of this scene. The transnational corporations In 2005 I have proposed to establish a Corpo Regio Programme A Programme of Strategic Partnership of Corporations and Regions [Corpo Regio 2005] Now we have an excellent opportunity to test the concept of Corpo Regio in the evaluation of diagnostic and prospective experiences of Mazovia. The presence of TNC on the territory of Warsaw and Mazovia is very strong. We can prepare a comprehensive cost benefit analysis of this presence. The Panel could present some methodological suggestions in this field [Jakubowska et al. 2007, 482] Mazovia is an element of the global scene. In this context we can formulate a dramatic question how Mazovia will survive the great global crisis 2008 2012? The Regional dynamics of Mazovia. Only dynamic regions will be successful actors of the global scene of the XXI century. In the Panel we need same reflexion concerning regional dynamism and regional dynamics [Switalski 2007] How to analyze the processes and structures which are creating or destroying the dynamics of a region. Mazovia as an possible example? We need a lot of knowledge, imagination and moral courage to present an comprehensive and honest diagnosis and prospective judgment in this field. Is it possible for the members of the Panel to support the thesis that the drama of dynamism (dynamic development) is the crucial drama of Mazovia of the XXI century. If you reject this thesis please formulate an alternative thesis, expressing the crucial drama of Mazovia of the XXI century. Mazovia is a classical example of a dual Region Mazovia is a deeply differentiated region. These differences have the quality of long duration and systemic interaction changing the set of differences into a developmental 88 MAZOVIA QUO VADIS? THE PANEL ON INTERNATIONAL EXPERTS Antoni Kuklinski gap separating the experiences of the Metropolitan Area of Warsaw and the eastern part of the Mazovian Region. We can say, that inside the Mazovian Region we discover a center periphery gap [Amoroso 2008] In more mild terms this phenomenon is described in the following sentence of the Strategy [Strategy 2006, 13, 17] ,Contrary to the generally speaking favorable situation of the Mazovieckie Voivodeship a spatial differentiation of the development process is a serious problem" This strategy is presenting on strategic answer ,A realistic scenario for the cohesive Mazovia" This strategy is a very great challenge for the Region of Mazovia. We have to remember that in some opinions in the performance of the Metropolitan Regions we observe a trend of growing intermetropolitan cooperation in the global scale and a diminishing trend of mutual relationship linking the metropolitan region and the surrounding non metropolitan area (compare the contributions of Grzegorz Gorzelak) If this observation is realistic, then the ,cohesive Mazovia" policies will face a very difficult environment. The comment of the Members of the Panel will be highly appreciated both in theoretical and pragmatic dimensions. The diagnosis of the transformation of Mazovia in the years 1990 2010 The opus, The glory and misery of the transformation of Mazovia is not yet written. Mazovia and especially Warsaw was an very important element of the succes of the great transformation of Poland at the turn of the XX and XXI century [Kuklinski 2001] Mazovia has emerged as the leading Polish Region in economic, political, social and cultural dimensions. This means not that Poland is a monocentric country dominated by Mazovia. Poland is an example of a polycentric country where the leading region is primus inter pares. Mazovia and especially Warsaw was very successful in the processes of adaptation to the changing European and global scene. Mazovia is functioning well in the structures of the European Union. This means not that we are forgetting the misery of the transformation of Poland including Mazovia and Warsaw. The most important part of this misery is the strong d