Intergovernmental cooperation and international sustainable mobility : a case study of the Amsterdam-London trainline

In this thesis, the role of intergovernmental cooperation in the policy process of the Amsterdam-London train line is researched. The focus is on how this type of cooperation can create sustainable transport options for international travel for citizens. This is analysed via a systematic literature review (open coding), where policy papers, governmental documentations, and media articles are analysed. This research shows that there is a relationship between the creation of sustainable international travel and intergovernmental cooperation. The results make clear that governments partake in intergovernmental cooperation to solve the policy issue of border controls in order to improve the train line, and to make it compete with other, less sustainable, modes of transportation. Next to that, it provides the basis for more in-depth research on the topic. This research has identified important concepts within the research topic, it shows the relationships present within the case study, and it shows the potential of sustainable mobility as topic of interest for governments, which can be achieved via intergovernmental cooperation. This thesis provides a research agenda for how this thesis can be used to set up a more in-depth analysis of the case, in order to identify create a more specific research.