Shifting paradigms: People-centred models, active regional development, space-blind policies and place-based approaches

Abstract

There is gathering academic and policy momentum, although not without challenge, critique and ferocious debate, that an apparent 'place-based' mode of activity has emerged. Such a paradigm shift may in part be explained as a response to the deficiencies of 'people-centred' models, active regional development and space-blind policies. This article critically reviews some of the primary literatures relating to these competing, contradictory and also complementary methods of development. The place-based mode of working can be conceptualised as potentially offering the scope, through supportive institutional frameworks and collaborative means of governance, for developing embedded, multi-scalar and multi-annual strategies that are tailored to the complex geographies, capabilities, knowledge-sets, assets and resources of particular places (and networks of places). Whilst appearing to offer a panacea for securing economic growth in a sustainable and socially inclusive manner that releases the potential, creativity and knowledge of local actants, the dominant narrative associated with the place-based approach has not escaped critique and controversy. It is our contention that place-based thinking reflects the continual search for solutions to address territorial, social and economic inequalities and development capacities. Whether it provides a workable policy solution will be contingent on a number of factors, not least spatial context in terms of social, cultural, economic and institutional characteristics. Reflecting the multiplicity of places, place-based approaches, in raising questions about the relationship between scales of operation and institutional structures, are a subset of broader debates and issues concerning not only what works but also where.

Reappraising the World Bank responses to rapid urbanisation: Slum improvements in Nigeria

“…Place-based interventions require more nuanced approaches than those permitted by many transnational programmes, such as those supported by the World Bank. Selecting some places for intervention does not necessarily equate to place-based development concepts (see Bentley and Pugalis, 2014), and in the case of Kpirikpiri, a topdown approach has proved to be far from effective in addressing the needs and potentialities of local inhabitants. What was absent in Kpirikpiri was the community's right to reconfigure its slum: a right to produce space.…”

“…Decentralised patterns of resource management are a particular feature of place-based mechanisms, although the implementation and actualisation of high-level principles would appear more contested and complex (Bentley and Pugalis, 2014). In the case of Nigeria, the World Bank specified that states would receive the funding.…”

“…This apparent lack of value for money (and value per se) poses greater significance against an international backdrop of fiscal austerity and stringent lending criteria imposed by private financial institutions. Active community participation, if implemented, displays the crucial features present in place-based development discourses, lauded in many policy-guidance documents (Commission of the European Communities (CEC), 2009) although much more difficult to operationalise (Bentley and Pugalis, 2014;Celata and Coletti, 2014;Dabrowski, 2014).…”

Leadership and systems of governance: the constraints on the scope for leadership of place-based development in sub-national territories

“…Recently, attention has shifted to focus and re-focus on 'place-based' approaches to city and regional development, in part to address critiques of place-blind and traditional regional policy approaches (BENTLEY and PUGALIS, 2014;AVDIKOS and CHARDAS, 2016). According to some it represents a paradigm shift not only in articulating and comprehending urban development dynamics, but also in the form and nature of development strategies (BARCA, 2009;OECD, 2011).…”

Social exclusion and poverty in Europe: Territorial patterns

“…It relates to different spheres of integration: labour market participation is an important cornerstone of social inclusion or exclusion; access to welfare state entitlements and adequate housing; or the right for political participation are others. Place plays an important role here, too, in terms of place-specific patterns and integrated strategies (Bentley and Pugalis, 2014).…”