The Italian Strategy for the Inner Areas: A Recent Policy to Reduce Marginality

Abstract

A possible application of the linear planning concerns the “extraordinary” policies aiming at contrasting specific issues such as that of regional inequality and marginality. The aim of the chapter is to critically discuss the most recent Italian policy that is dealing with regional marginality, the National Strategy for Inner Areas. The analysis shows how this policy has several innovative and interesting aspects that makes it unique both in the Italian and in the European context. At the same time, however, the risk of public policies conceived ad hoc for territorial contexts considered marginal is highlighted. Such approach appears quite distant from that suggested by the presence of a line that holds together both marginal and central areas.