Three Regional Cooperations in the long-term life and adaption cycle: empirical application and enhancement of a model

Based on a developed life and adaption-cycle model of re-gional cooperations, the development of three German rural regions is examined (Altmark, Kiel, Kronach). The interaction of external and internal influencing factors explains the quite different development patterns of the three regions. As a main finding can be formulated that in the development of regional cooperation neither a general tendency towards stable struc-tures nor towards stable spatial structures can be asserted. Rather regional cooperation structures can be eroded even after a longer period of stability, as well despite continuous support of the state. Variable spatial shapes of regional co -operations can be handled in a productive way particularly if the institutional, political and administrative structures of the base unit county are stable.