Building Blocks for a Narrative Policy Analysis The Case of ECoC Pécs Pécs Trapped by Multi-level Governance Zoltán Bretter, Ph.D. – University of Pécs

Zoltan Bretter, Ph.D.: Building Blocks for a Policy Analysis – the Case of ECoC Pécs 2010 The Narrative Pécs Trapped by Multi-level Governance In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1.1) The role of the narrative storytelling Creation: stories consist of choices, distortions and inventions Identity-building: this is My Story Emotionally significant: will result in attachment: this is the „true story” Evaluative: will tell exactly the „real value” of things within the story Coherent (more or less): there are no „chance” stories Predicting: the future behavior; the story has a continuation Creating social meaning

Zoltan Bretter, Ph.D.: Building Blocks for a Policy Analysis – the Case of ECoC Pécs 2010 The prehistory of the narrative - the different meanings of a concept Pécs Trapped by Multi-level Governance The concept of Capital of Culture ECoC had been first used in an electoral campaign in 2002 – then largely forgotten by politicians Group of intellectuals launched a series of discussions on the possibility of an application for the ECoC title Different meanings of Capital of Culture ECoC (some intellectuals) Capital of European Culture (mayor) Hungarian Capital of Culture (mayor) Increased funding for cultural institutions (leaders) International context: Hungary joined the EU on 4 Th of May, , February: Council of the Ministers of Culture decided that the new member states could nominate a city for ECoC title Accepted meaning: 2003 official declaration of the mayor on the willingness for an application

Zoltan Bretter, Ph.D.: Building Blocks for a Policy Analysis – the Case of ECoC Pécs 2010 Building up the primary narrative 1. Pécs Trapped by Multi-level Governance 5 pillars Open, lively places in the town The town of cultural heritage and cultural innovation Multicultural town Regional capital Gate town, opened towards regions for the time being not members of the EU

Zoltan Bretter, Ph.D.: Building Blocks for a Policy Analysis – the Case of ECoC Pécs 2010 Building up the primary narrative 2. Pécs Trapped by Multi-level Governance 5 big investments Reconstruction of “Museum Street” (Big exhibition place) Reconstruction of parks and public places Zsolnay Cultural Quarter (revitalization of the Zsolnay porcelain manufacture) New building: Regional Library and Knowledge Center New building: Conference and Concert Center (today: Kodály Center)

Zoltan Bretter, Ph.D.: Building Blocks for a Policy Analysis – the Case of ECoC Pécs 2010 Emerging narrative – a successful bid Pécs Trapped by Multi-level Governance history, heritage, buildings, environment popular memory intellectual story symbols, tropes political decision institutionalization investment, city planning political gains, political marketing, elections Political Civic 19 th October, 2005 (H) 13 th November, 2006 (EU)

Zoltan Bretter, Ph.D.: Building Blocks for a Policy Analysis – the Case of ECoC Pécs 2010 Two trajectories of policy making Pécs Trapped by Multi-level Governance Mayer, I.S., Els van Daalen, C. and Bots, P.W.G. ‘Perspectives on policy analyses: a framework for understanding and design’ Deliberative policy making “Classical” policy making Object oriented values and criteria Subject oriented values and criteria Idealistic and generic values and criteria Pragmatic and particular values and criteria

Zoltan Bretter, Ph.D.: Building Blocks for a Policy Analysis – the Case of ECoC Pécs 2010 Second layer narrative - the metanarrative Pécs Trapped by Multi-level Governance history, heritage, buildings, environment popular memory intellectual story symbols, tropes political decisions institutionalization investment, city planning political gains, political marketing, elections A narrative of implementation (Classical public policy) A narrative on stakeholders (Deliberative public policy) “muddling trough” (Lindblom) “text producing” dreaming selecting distorting lying

Zoltan Bretter, Ph.D.: Building Blocks for a Policy Analysis – the Case of ECoC Pécs 2010 Questions for further - theoretical - reflections Pécs Trapped by Multi-level Governance 1.Was it imperative that a metanarrative should be born? (From methodological point of view did we got it right with the metanarrative?) 2.If yes, why? a.Deliberation should stop at some point (the point of the implementation of a public policy program)? b.Political culture is of the nature, which won`t allow deliberation to be extended beyond the planning phase? c.Politicking is inevitable or dependent on political culture? 3.Do we need a dynamic model of public policy making and analysis? (for example restructuring that of Hal Colebatch.) 4.Are there any chances for a multi-level governance, and if yes, under what conditions? 5.The political culture of „mutual distrust” will support any „multi-level govenance”?

Zoltan Bretter, Ph.D.: Building Blocks for a Policy Analysis – the Case of ECoC Pécs 2010 Pécs Trapped by Multi-level Governance Thank you for your attention!