Współpraca międzynarodowa a strategie rozwoju w powiatach przygranicznych

Over the past 30 years significant changes in the public management have been observed. Since the 80s, development of the new concept of the New Public Management and progress of globalization have affected local governments' activities. In consequence, the involvement of local units in international cooperation has increased. Moreover, the popularity of using management tools, known in private companies, have raised at local level. In the research, we have focused on analyzing relations between local Authorities' strategic management and the phenomenon of the internationalization process in cross-border districts. These counties were chosen because units located near the country's border are the most active in conducting the international cooperation (Szewczyk 2007). In the article, we have looked for the answer to the question: to what extent the most important development document of cross-border districts affects their level of the internationalization? In the first part of the research, the development strategi es of cross-border counties were analyzed. Then, the internationalization process in eight chosen units were evaluated. The comparison of the actual internationalization's level and cross-border counties' strategies have shown that the connection between strategies and real phenomena occurring in such counties, in this context has not existed. Additionally, development strategies are very different. The international cooperation and the internationalization process are highlighted rather in newer documents.