Cross-border narratives of development and space: transborder planning in North America

Abstract

Achieving better coordination across the common international boundary has long been a priority for policy makers and planners along the U.S.-Mexico border. Efforts to harmonize and align regional policy and planning have included attempts to encourage more effective coordination across federal, state and local agencies, sometimes adopting a piecemeal approach and sometimes embracing comprehensive perspectives (Wong 2004). Habitually, these efforts target the private sector, which it is encouraged to engage in cross-border partnerships involving other private entities, local universities or even government agencies (Sparrow 2001). Often community-based organizations have been encouraged to engage in cross-border coordination as a way to improve the effectiveness of programs targeting the quality of life of border residents or the betterment of the border environment (Lara-Valencia 2011; Chang-Hee 2003).