Regions and Regional Uneven Development Forever? Some Reflective Comments upon Theory and Practice

Ray Hudson

Regional Studies, 2007, vol. 41, issue 9, 1149-1160

Abstract: Hudson R. (2007) Regions and regional uneven development forever? Some reflective comments upon theory and practice, Regional Studies 41, 1149-1160. In recent years, for a variety of reasons, there has been a resurgence of interest in 'the region' from a variety of both intellectual and practical perspectives, with the somewhat surprising result that regional studies have come to be of central concern and the region has come to occupy a central place in social scientific discourse and political debates. In this, questions of power loom large. This paper examines four, to a degree inter-weaving, sets of key questions, framed by a concern with who has the power of decision, in both intellectual debates about regions and regional policy and practice. First, how is the region to be defined? Secondly, how can the concept of governmentality deepen one's understanding of regions? Thirdly, how are 'the region's interests' to be defined? And finally, how is regional economic development to be defined? Problematizing what is meant by the terms 'region' and 'development' in these ways and posing and exploring questions such as these will allow the study of regions to be taken forward in a progressive manner in the future. Hudson R. (2007) Les regions et le desequilibre regional pour toujours? Des reflexions sur la theorie et la pratique, Regional Studies 41, 1149-1160. Au cours des dernieres annees, les etudes regionales et la region ont reussi a s'imposer dans le discours socio-scientifique et dans les debats politiques. Cet article cherche a examiner quatre series de questions cles, formulees a partir d'une inquietude quant a la prise de decision dans les debats intellectuels sur les regions et dans la pratique de la politique regionale. Primo, comment est-ce qu'on peut definir une region? Secundo, comment la notion de gouvernance peut-elle approfondir la comprehension a propos des regions? Tertio, comment definir les 'interets de la region' Quarto, comment definir le developpement economique regional? La poursuite d'une reponse a ces questions permettra le developpement des etudes regionales d'une maniere progressive. Regions;Amenagement du territoire desequilibre;Pouvoir;Economie politique;Gouvernance;Theorie et pratique Hudson R. (2007) Regionen und ungleichmassige Regionalentwicklung fur immer? Nachdenkliche Kommentare uber Theorie und Praxis, Regional Studies 41, 1149-1160. Seit einigen Jahren nehmen Regionalstudien und die Region in den sozialwissenschaftlichen Diskursen und politischen Debatten einen zentralen Platz ein. In diesem Beitrag untersuche ich vier Gruppen an Hauptfragen, denen das gemeinsame Thema zugrunde liegt, wer in den intellektuellen Debatten uber Regionen und in der Praxis der Regionalpolitik die Macht zum Treffen von Entscheidungen hat. Die erste Frage: Wie soll man eine Region definieren? Die zweite: Wie lasst sich durch das Konzept der Gouvernementalitat unser Verstandnis der Regionen vertiefen? Drittens: Wie soll man die, Interessen einer Region' definieren? Wie soll man die regionale Wirtschaftsentwicklung definieren? Der Versuch, diese Fragen zu beantworten, wird es ermoglichen, das Studium der Regionen auf progressive Weise voranzubringen. Regionen;Ungleichmassige Regionalentwicklung;Macht;Politische Wirtschaft;Gouvernementalitat;Theorie und Praxis Hudson R. (2007) ¿Estan las regiones y el desarrollo regional desequilibrado para siempre? Algunas observaciones que reflejan la teoria y la practica, Regional Studies 41, 1149-1160. En los ultimos anos los estudios regionales y la region se han convertido en el tema principal de los debates politicos y discursos cientificos-sociales. En este articulo analizo cuatro series de preguntas basicas, formuladas en torno a quien tiene el poder de decidir en los debates intelectuales sobre las regiones y en la practica de la politica regional. Primero ¿como se define la region? Segundo, ¿como puede el concepto de gubernamentalidad profundizar en como entendemos las regiones? Tercero ¿como se definen los 'intereses de las regiones'? ¿Como se define el desarrollo economico regional? Hallar respuestas a estas preguntas permitira poder llevar a cabo el estudio de las regiones de un modo progresivo. Regiones;Desarrollo regional desigual;Poder;Economia politica;Gubernamentalidad;Teoria y practica

Keywords: Regions; Regional uneven development; Power; Political economy; Governmentality; Theory and practice (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2007
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (29)

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DOI: 10.1080/00343400701291617

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