Convergence versus autonomy in Europe: the welfare and the cohesion’s regimes in Italy, Spain, France, Germany and UK in time of crisis

The Chapter discusses the processes of European integration, convergence and of local autonomy in making possible di differentiation between welfare and social cohesion regime. This Chapter also try to give a general overview of the predominant transformations occurring on these regimes during the crisis. The study deals with the emergence of new space of autonomy for local governments involved in social cohesion policy making, so, it draws upon a network analysis of local actors and their response activities designed to tackle the economic crisis by summarizing the main results obtained from a cross-country survey conducted in Italy (Milan and Naples), Germany (Berlin and Monaco), France (Rouen), Spain (Barcelona and Vigo) and the United Kingdom (London and Liverpool).