Made in Cornwall? - A New Model of Economic Governance in an English Region

This thesis considers the regeneration process in Cornwall UK. It specifically identifies the role of a number of key stakeholders from both inside and outside of the county. A key element is the New Labour government’s aspiration to promote a system of governance rather than government in the regions.
Through an in-depth review of the culture, history and industrial make up of Cornwall, the thesis contributes to the knowledge database, an insight into how Cornwall and its residents evolved through the barren period of industrial decline to one of growth and continued development.
An interpretation of the methodologies utilised in regulation theory, governmentality and political ecology theory set the foundations for the empirical investigation. The combination of the three theories helps in formulating not only the results but also the research questions and the context of the empirical research.
The research findings indicate that whilst over a long period the Cornish people held a mistrust of anyone willing to come in to help them improve their well-being through economic regeneration, more recently a shift to one of acceptance of outside assistance now prevails. The research shows that the shift towards a system of governance and endogenous ‘bottom up’ development, function as a system whereby all stakeholders from government representatives to local communities work together to provide a better and workable and perhaps more importantly, sustainable regeneration programme.