Narratives of Territorial Cohesion and Economic Growth

A Comparative Study

Bibliographic Data

ID13055240
AuthorsTatjana Boczy (0000-0002-7791-2038, University of Vienna, corresponding author), Marta Cordini (0000-0002-5668-8209, Politecnico di Milano)
Year2020
Volume8
Issue4
Pages218-228
Publication date2020-12-03
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueSocial Inclusion (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2183-2803 • E-ISSN: 2183-2803
PublisherCogitatio (PUBLISHER • PT)
DOI10.17645/si.v8i4.3349
OpenAlexW3109430802
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited12

The ability of regions to develop new productive capacities and to address the needs of inhabitants has become central in the EU agenda to trigger cohesion, sustainable growth and equality. This ability does not derive only from material assets but also from cognitive ones, such as trust, ways of cooperation, governance cultures and sense of belonging. Cognitive aspects are in fact fundamental in making the most of the greater potential of territorial features. Using the concept of territorial capital, we investigate this mix between material and cognitive assets in regional planning discourses. Territorial capital raises issues of spatial diversity and inequality as questions of access. Starting from the theoretical framework suggested by Servillo, Atkinson, and Russo (2011) on attractiveness and mobilization strategies, this article addresses the issue of territorial inequalities on material and cognitive bases by analysing mobilization discourses on territorial capital at a regional scale in Italy and Austria. The investigation of three case studies at differentterritorial scales (urban, suburban and rural) in each country allows both intra-regional and inter-regional comparison. By mapping the discursive structures of local economic development documents and key-actor interviews, we analyse the different mobilizing strategies in these contexts. Comparing inter-regional mobilization provides an in-depth insight into differences as well as similarities of cohesion strategies in regional planning on multiple levels. This can spark new territorially sensitive schemes for further sustainable socio-economic and equalising development that connects with the social structures on the ground

Attractiveness · Cohesion (chemistry · Economic geography · Economic system · Economics · Inequality · Political science · Regional science · Social capital · Social science · Sociology · Cultural Industries and Urban Development · Regional Development and Policy · Regional resilience and development

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