The progressive model, an economic reconciliation process for regions in conflict

Bibliographic Data

ID20501404
AuthorsIlan Bijaoui (Ashkelon Academic College, Ashkelon, Israel), Suhail Sultan (0000-0003-3724-3607, UNU-MERIT, Maastricht, The Netherlands), Shlomo Tarba (0000-0002-1919-084X, Open University of Israel), Shlomo Yedidia Tarba (Department of Economics and Management, The Open University, Raanana, Israel)
EditorsEvangelos Tsoukatos (0000-0002-2670-8555), Carmen Rodrigues-Santos
Year2011
Volume18
Issue3
Pages293-312
Publication date2011-08-02
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueCross Cultural Management An International Journal (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1352-7606 • E-ISSN: 1758-6089
PublisherEmerald (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1108/13527601111152833
OpenAlexW2019725921
LanguageEN
References cited37

Purpose The main purpose of this paper is to propose a model of economic development able to generate a cross-border sustainable economic development, in regions in conflict. The Italian industrial district model implements a community industry synergy process led by the authorities according to a top-down approach. The cluster model implements a clustering specialization process led, in the American version, by a bottom-up approach and in the European version by a top-down approach. The regional innovation system (RIS) provides the regional and international innovation networking required for both models in order to confront the global competition. The proposed progressive model creates the industrial specialization (industrial district) required for the development of the clustering process supported by the RIS. Design/methodology/approach The authors have selected, from the list of producers (growers and producers of olive oil), a random sample of 103 growers of olives and producers of olive oil from both groups from the Northern regions (Galilee in Israel and the Northern West Bank): 26 Palestinian growers, 25 Palestinian producers, 13 Israeli growers and 39 Israeli producers of olive oil, and interviewed them. Findings The results show that the community-industry synergy of the industrial district model is supported by the economic actors from both sides of the border but refused for political reasons by the regional authorities and professional associations. The raw material (olives), the human capital and the knowledge required in order to start the clustering process exist. Practical implications The study has evaluated the Israeli-Jewish and Arab and the Palestinian olive sector, and clearly indicates that bottom-up decision-making process is the only way for the moment for initiating the cluster and RIS models in the olive sector. The intervention of a third party is required in order to start the bottom-up implementation of the industrial district model and launch the clustering process. Originality/value The main contribution of this paper lies in organizing the industrial district in such a way that it will generate a cluster in the long run. Thus, it is called progressive model

Business · Cluster analysis · Economics · Economy · Geography · Industrial district · Political science · Politics · Regional science · Computer Science · Cross-Border Cooperation and Integration · Economic Zones and Regional Development · Global trade, sustainability, and social impact