ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the European presentation and critique of New Regionalism, and examines the Australian experience of regionalism before moving on to what this might contribute to an understanding of New Regionalism in the Australian political context. It considers the implications for and the relevance of communities to the discussion, and the accountabilities and contradictions that operate between communities, regions and the state, and finally at the possibilities for effective regional governance mechanisms that take account of these arguments. The chapter explores problems for democracy occurring with the impact of globalization and marketization. A useful discussion of regionalism in Australia must demonstrate an understanding both of the history of regionalism and of the limitations of its theoretical parameters. Australian regional development policies are inadequate, partial and unintegrated. Community politics, in reflecting the new global, social movements, is positioned to be able to influence a new regional politics of networked communities, addressing regional concerns shaped by global processes and community affiliations.
