Accountability for Symbiosis between a City and a Company

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to clarify the way of symbiosis between a city and a manufacturing company,based on a case study of Kasugai city, Aichi Prefecture and Oji Paper Co.,Ltd..By focusing on changes that occur in `administration,inhabitants and company'relationships,I can grasp the transformation in a local area as a shift from unitary management by a local government to local governance which is based on a gentle network of diverse subjects. Actually such local governance can be realized only after its accountability is established publicly.This article examines i)disclosures of environmental issues for public participation,and ii)monitoring & evaluation functions as a feedback for environmental information.I argue that accountability is the key concept of public disclosure and monitoring & evaluation of information. Through an analysis of three examples;pollution resolution process of a paper mill,transformation of a neighborhood protest movement,and present conditions of a PRTR system,It is argued that accountability is a basis for a symbiotic relationship between a city and a private corporation,and that,then,the relationship is shifting from a vertical one to a more horizontal one.