Identity and Territorial Character

Book excerpt: In economic crisis times it seems territory «does not matter»... less than never. This argument neglects, consciously or not, the possibility of new innovative ways that precisely contribute to promoting, again, development; this time supported on cooperation and territorial intelligence for both cohesion and better quality of life from local to supra-national (EU) levels. A renewed understanding of local (territorial) development is presented in this book; a new model of competitiveness based on specific resources instead common or banal ones. The goal of this volume is re-inventing territories and exploring possibilities of vectors such identity, culture and new territorial government/governance practices.