Political Agenda Research Articles

Health Impacts of Disasters and Social Indicators: An Ecological Study

Abstract The objective of this study is to investigate the correlation between certain social indicators and the mortality and morbidity in disasters recorded in the EM-DAT database within countries in the last decade. The correlation between the mortality and morbidity in disasters recorded in the EM-DAT database between March 1, 2014-2024 and the most recent data on Human Development Index (HDI), Gender Inequality Index (GII), Gini Coefficient (GC), Government Health Expenditure as a share of GDP (GHE/GDP) and Corruption Perception Index (CPI) were analyzed. During the period of the study, disasters from a total of 207 countries/regions were recorded in the database. The median (IQR) values of countries in disasters were found to be 35.1 (67.5) for death per million and 76.3 (783.0) for injury per million. The most frequent types of disasters, the most frequent cause of mortality and the most frequent cause of injury in each country were found to be floods, extreme temperatures, and epidemics, respectively. While there was no significant difference between the social indicators analyzed and the total number of deaths, there was a negative correlation between the number of injuries and the HDI, CPI, GHE/GDP values of the countries, and a positive correlation between the GC and GII values (for all tests, Spearman correlation test, p < 0.001). The correlation coefficient was interpreted as ‘weak’ in all other pairwise analyses except for the GHE/GDP value (moderate). Countries with social indicators closer to the positive threshold have been found to have less injuries in disasters. The possible reason for the insignificant correlation with the mortality is thought to be the difficulties in detecting mortality, especially in ‘extreme temperatures’, and the fact that it is mostly recorded in countries where social indicators are relatively more advanced. More research is needed to investigate the relationality between social indicators and disaster harms. Key messages • Disasters are critical mediators between social determinants and health. Addressing and reducing inequalities should remain on the public health agenda to prevent disasters and protect health. • Analysis of disasters shows that ‘extreme temperatures’, which cause the most deaths in some countries, are barely detected in developing countries. Disaster recording systems need to be strengthened.

Quitting with pride: Differences in smoking behaviour across sexual identity groups in Ireland

Abstract Background As smoking prevalence reduces, smoking inequalities across population groups is emerging as a key challenge. Despite recognition of specific needs among members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transexual Plus (LGBT+) community, differences in smoking across sexual identity groups is uncharted in Ireland and the community is not represented in tobacco policy agenda setting. This study aimed to measure and compare the prevalence of smoking, quitting intention and quitting behaviour across sexual identify groups in Ireland. Methods Secondary analysis of the 2023 “Healthy Ireland” cross sectional survey of health status was conducted (n = 7,411). For the first time, this survey included a question on self-reported sexual identify, along with standard questions on smoking prevalence, quitting intention and quitting behaviour. Prevalence of smoking, quitting intention and quitting behaviour were calculated with 95% Confidence Intervals (CI) and compared across groups with Chi Square tests. Results In total, 2.3% (95% CI 2.0-2.7%) of respondents reported an LGB+ identity. Compared to those reporting straight identity, LGB+ respondents reported higher smoking prevalence (17.6% versus 21.4% respectively); intention to quit was similar across groups, however, LBG+ respondents also reported a higher prevalence of making at least one quit attempt in the previous 12 months (51.3% versus 78.0% respectively, p < 0.0001). Conclusions While this study highlighted tobacco-use as a health challenge for the LGB+ community in Ireland, it also identified an opportunity for tailored stop smoking approaches to support quit success. As a consequence, an innovative Fulbright-sponsored policy dialogue was convened between leaders in tobacco control, LGBT+ community leaders, health services and academia across Ireland and the USA to explore solutions, underlining the important role equity stratifiers and population surveillance play in agenda setting for public health. Key messages • Including sexual identity in the national population health survey enabled tobacco-use needs across sexual identity groups in Ireland delineated for the first time. • Equity-stratified population health surveillance informed a policy dialogue to better represent needs of LGBT+ community in public health agenda setting.

Reinterpreting the NRA’s Eddie Eagle GunSafe® program as a corporate political activity

Abstract Background In the US firearm injuries are the leading cause of death among children and adolescents. However, and despite there being limited evidence to support the adoption of gun safety education programs, firearm industry-funded groups like the National Rifle Association (NRA) promote the delivery of their education-based Eddie Eagle Gunsafe® program while lobbying against other firearm policies less favourable to the firearm industry. The study aimed to address an important research gap by examining how the NRA frame gun ownership, safety and the role of the Eddie Eagle GunSafe® program as an effective firearm safety intervention and whether the design, promotion and delivery of the program serves the corporate political interests of the firearm industry, and if so, how. Methods We conducted a critical analysis of program-related texts and films and the NRA’s practices to promote its legitimacy and effectiveness, guided by the application of published taxonomies of corporate framing and action strategies. Data was collected from the program-specific websites and other NRA outlets to capture the breadth of strategies used to promote their education program. Results The NRA’s practices support the corporate political agenda of the firearm industry. The NRA adopts framing and action strategies that present the presence of firearms in homes and communities as inevitable and normal and the education of children through the delivery of their “lifesaving” program as the common-sense and effective way of keeping children safe from firearm injuries. They make misleading claims about the effectiveness of the program while undermining the credibility of those who advocate for the safety of children and adolescents. Conclusions The ongoing delivery of the Eddie Eagle GunSafe® program needs to be questioned. Policies based on a recognition that children and adolescents are safest when their homes and communities are free of firearms are needed to prevent firearm injuries. Key messages • The NRA makes misleading claims about their program’s effectiveness and distorts understanding of what is needed to prevent firearm injuries and ensure the safety of all children. • The firearm industry needs more attention from the global public health community. Evidenced policy measures that prioritize the prevention of firearm injuries are needed to save children’s lives.

Analisis Framing Pemberitaan Kasus Korupsi Syahrul Yasin Limpo di Kompas.com

Corrupt practices in Indonesia are a major problem that causes financial losses andundermines public trust in government and justice system. This phenomenon has become a widespreadsince pre independence till Reformasi era, and involves various levels of government. The mass mediaplays an important role in publicizing corruption cases, shaping public opinion, and influencing the political agenda. This study aims to analyze the framing of the news coverage of the Syahrul Yasin Limpo corruption case by Kompas.com from February 29 to May 10, 2024. The framing analysis method is used to observe how the media shapes reality and presents news, as well as identify power dynamics and relationships between the parties involved. The results of the study show that Kompas.com focus on certain aspects that affect the public's view of the case. This study provides an understanding of the influence of media framing on public perception of corruption cases in Indonesia.Keywords: Analysis of Framing, Kompas.com, Corruption, Mass Media, Syahrul Yasin Limpo

YouTube channel as a component of convergent media: role, influence and perspectives

The article aims to analyze the role of local media in shaping the public agenda during large-scale military actions in Ukraine and how to increase audience loyalty and engagement through convergent practices. In particular, the content, growth dynamics, target audience characteristics, and specific features of the YouTube channel Dnipro TV as a convergent media are considered. The city television channel has successfully transformed from a traditional broadcaster into a convergent media through its YouTube channel and other social networks. This has allowed it to expand its audience, maintain influence, and adapt to changes in the media landscape. It is noted that during two years of full-scale aggression, the number of subscribers to the Dnipro TV YouTube channel has nearly tripled. The channel hosts all the content produced by the creative team of Dnipro TV. The videos can be accessed directly from the YouTube page or via the respective section on the website. The chosen research period is characterized by, on the one hand, increased demand for local content from the city's TV channel audience due to the hostilities and security threats to the population. On the other hand, there is the involvement of the global community in events in Ukraine and the interest of displaced persons, with local content on the YouTube channel being accessible from any country. Thus, only 64.7 % of users watch videos on the YouTube channel from within Ukraine, while over 35 % view local content from other countries. The analysis also highlights changes in the audience's gender composition: before the war, women constituted the majority, while in 2023 and 2024, the male audience made up 54 %, compared to 45.9 % female. The convergent local media Dnipro TV attracts its audience with news broadcasts, a series of original programs, and talk shows, all of which can be found on YouTube and watched at a convenient time. We believe that the development of this channel as a convergent media with multiplatform content representation holds great promise.

The adoption and implementation of local government planning policy to manage hot food takeaways near schools in England: A qualitative process evaluation

IntroductionAccess to hot food takeaways, particularly near schools, is of growing concern for policymakers seeking to reduce childhood obesity globally. In England, United Kingdom (UK), local government jurisdictions are implementing planning policies to reduce access by restricting or denying planning permission for new takeaway outlets near schools. We used a qualitative approach to explore local government officers’ perspectives on the barriers to and facilitators of the adoption, implementation, and perceived effectiveness of these policies. MethodsIn 2021–2022, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 29 local planning (‘planners’) and public health government officers from 15 different local authorities across England who adopted a policy to restrict new takeaways. Data were analysed thematically. ResultsParticipants explained that they mostly thought the policies facilitated the refusal of applications for new takeaways near schools. However, participants speculated that businesses identified alternative opportunities to operate including functioning as ‘restaurants’ or within other locations. Effective working relationships between planners and public health officers were important for adoption and implementation, although planning and public health agendas did not always align and there were tensions between economic development and health improvement goals. The policy was adapted to suit local needs and priorities; in some cases, the policy was not used in areas where economic growth was prioritised. Clarity in policy wording and establishing a formal process for implementing policies including a designated individual responsible for checking and reviewing takeaway applications helped ensure consistency and confidence in policy implementation. ConclusionAlthough sometimes challenging, the policies were commonly described as feasible to implement. However, they may not completely prevent new takeaways opening, particularly where takeaways are relied upon to enhance local economies or where takeaway businesses find alternative ways to operate. Nevertheless, the policies can serve to shift the balance of power that currently favours commercial interests over public health priorities.

Latin American, Caribbean, and Colombian cultural studies trajectories: Cartographies of the relation between culture and power in the region

ABSTRACT This article presents a particular trajectory of Latin American and Caribbean intellectual practices as a contribution to the effort of pluralizing the various genealogies of Cultural Studies conversations, projects, and research and political agendas from a global perspective. It departs from what could be thought as a strategic port encompassing both the analytic of the complex, dynamic, and intertwined relation between culture and power and the recognition of intellectual practices as key elements not only for the diagnosis of the present conjuncture; but also for imagining and enabling other futures. From this vantage point, different intellectual traditions interpellated or not with the cultural studies label are described to historize the Cultural Studies project as one produced from the peripheries of the World System. The article argues that this was the pool of intellectual practices that inspired the institutionalization of Cultural Studies in Colombia in the 1990s. Finally, it describes some of the most pressing and relevant research agendas in the present while arguing that today Cultural Studies in the country is not only an academic project inside universities.

Under the shadow of legality: A shadow hauntology on the legal construction of the Women, Peace and Security agenda

Abstract Considered a landmark in feminist international politics, the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda of the UN Security Council has been the object of many feminist explorations. Feminist legal scholars, however, have grappled with the ‘shadowy’ legality of the agenda, mostly analysing it as an ‘unsuccessful’ legal project: a partial or in progress legal norm, a defective legal form that attests (and furthers) the exile of inclusion of feminists in international law, or yet a formalistic discussion with lesser impact for feminist activists on the ground. Drawing from Avery Gordon’s considerations on taking shadows seriously in our production of knowledge, I propose, however, that reckoning with the shadows of the WPS’s legality enables a more comprehensive analysis of how the agenda has been a successful legal project in its own way. Offering a ‘shadow hauntology’ for the legal status of the WPS, I zoom in on the competing legality perceptions shared by relevant actors, the (gendered and colonially-continuous) shadows that have haunted those perceptions into formation, and how these competing visions have shaped the legality of the WPS as a shadow of its own. This study then offers an alternative way of studying legality both to feminist legal scholarship and studies on international legal sources more broadly. More concretely, it embraces the irresolvability of the legal status of a norm to take stock of the different legal projects and legality perceptions advanced by feminist actors and gender experts, in an effort to understand, in their own terms, the successes achieved.

Fuel and electricity pricing and subsidies in the GCC states: recent developments

ABSTRACT This paper discusses recent developments for fossil fuel (FF) and electricity pricing and consumption in the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which together form the core of OPEC. These countries still subsidize FFs, albeit to varying degrees and UAE least so. The states have indicated a wish to reform their FF subsidies, which has led to a fiscal drain and lower than desired FF export revenues. Apart from UAE, none of these countries’ plans have however yet come to fruition. We discuss in some detail the political basis for such plans, and the factors making them more or less likely to be pursued and succeed. Long-term considerations, and pressures from budget balance, climate change and efficient economic allocation, all speak in favor of price reforms which will be overall beneficial to all the states. More modernistic views, taking over the countries’ political agendas, also push in the same direction. The paper also discusses similar recent developments in two comparator MENA countries, Iran (structurally most similar to the GCC countries), and Egypt (which has a more different economy and export base).

Preparing for pandemics needs a dose of public health and a booster of “complex thought” (Errare humanum est, perseverare diabolicum)

AbstractThe COVID‐19 pandemic has triggered unprecedented governmental responses worldwide, revealing weaknesses in health systems and public health policies due to lack of “complex thought” required to manage complex adaptive systems. Understanding COVID‐19 response strategies' multiple effects is particularly important now that pandemic preparedness and response (PPR) is on top of the global health political agenda. Here, we adopt a complex adaptive systems approach to critically analyze the literature and draw lessons from the COVID‐19 response to inform future PPR strategies. We observe that in many contexts, strategies implemented in response to COVID‐19 were poorly effective, inefficient, and inequitable. We explain the limitations of these prevailing measures and propose approaches and strategies to manage pandemics arising from a “systems thinking” perspective. PPR demands the adoption of an evolving, evidenced‐informed, and context‐specific strategy based on comprehensive approaches reflecting the complexities of health crises. This means moving away from single‐focused health security paradigms to consider the full range of health problems facing populations and adopting a package of interventions chosen via participatory and deliberative processes that are context‐specific and sensitive, as well as evidence‐driven, to ensure a fair balance between various pillars of pandemic responses: health promotion, non‐pharmaceutical interventions, prophylaxis, vaccines, and treatments.

Fact-Checkers on the Fringe: Investigating Methods and Practices Associated With Contested Areas of Fact-Checking

This study investigates the methods and practices used by self-identified fact-checkers situated on the fringe of the field of fact-checking to support their agenda for public recognition and legitimacy. Using a case study approach and selecting nine cases across five countries (Russia, Brazil, India, China, and Singapore), we identify the most common distinguishable attributes and tactics associated with this ambiguous collection of actors. In addition to identifying how fringe fact-checkers weaponize fact-checking practices and exploit or mimic the social standing of accredited fact-checkers, we critique examples where state-supported fact-checkers associated with authoritarian governance structures fact-check for national interests. We propose a spectrum of fact-checkers including those where public or general interest fact-checkers follow journalistic ideals and align with accredited communities of practice or non-accredited peer recognition, and a collection of fringe fact-checkers ranging from “special interest” actors promoting specific political agendas to hostile actors with disruptive, destructive, and openly propagandistic interests and aims to destabilize the global public sphere. The article contributes to current research and debates about the institutionalization of fact-checking and the understudied area of fact-checking impersonation, a problematic activity associated with misinformation and propaganda on platforms and the internet.

Othering Nature in Arundhati Roy’s 'The God of Small Things': A Postcolonial Ecocritical Study

By mainly referring to Huggan and Tiffin (2010) on postcolonial ecocriticism, the study aims to explore how Arundhati Roy’s novel The God of Small Things (1997) contributes new perspectives on the intertwining between postcolonial studies and ecocriticism. In addition, it explores how the anthropocentric attitude of human beings ruins their natural environment. The selected text is analyzed by utilizing the techniques of content analysis. Human beings are involved to ‘other’ natural environments for their economic gains in the name of development. It is the way of justifying their colonizing attitudes and manipulation of nature. The research finds out that the humans’ desires for economic development are materialized through putting aside the traditional ways of agriculture, building dams, clearing forests, and adopting modern ways of living which destroy the balance of their ecosystem. These factors eventually lead towards the ‘othering’ of nature and the natives in the hands of the colonizers, having some hidden economic and political agendas. Though, Roy’s selected text (1997) has been explored through different postcolonial perspectives but, the colonizers’ attitude towards nature and lands of the colonized is ignored. So, the study is an effort to fill this research gap.

Oscar Wilde’s Trials as a Haunting Presence: An Approach to the Role of Fantasy in Contemporary Neo-Victorian Novels Depicting Same-Sex Romance Between Men

The main aim of this essay is to assess the impact of Oscar Wilde’s trials on neo-Victorian representations of same-sex desire between men. Throughout the text, I argue that the consequences of Wilde’s imprisonment have become a haunting presence that still pervades how male sexual dissidence is represented in neo-Victorian novels. The works examined in this essay are therefore considered differently than those which portray sapphic relationships or other forms of non-heterosexual desires. Ultimately, I argue that a new trend within neo-Victorianism, in which fantasy elements are intertwined with queer desire among men, could offer a new way of portraying same-sex desire between men; this new portrayal could be more in compliance with the political, cultural, and social agenda of neo-Victorianism. Through a brief analysis of Natasha Pulley’s The Watchmaker of Filigree Street and a more in-depth exploration of Freya Marske’s A Marvellous Light, I conclude that fantasy may—if the writer wishes it—allow a portrayal of queer desire that overcomes many of the traumatising and haunting obstacles which resulted from Wilde’s plight.

The public health challenges of female migration: the Venezuelan diaspora in Andean countries

BackgroundVenezuelan migration has experienced an unprecedented increase in the last decade, with approximately 7.7 million Venezuelan-born individuals residing in other countries as of 2024. Our study aims to identify the potential and actual demand for healthcare services (SRH) in the Venezuelan diaspora’s four primary destinations within the Andean Countries: Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Chile.MethodsUsing official data from administrative records, censuses, and sample surveys reported by the host countries and international agencies, we estimate the annual evolution of Venezuelan-born women of reproductive age (WRA) and their offspring. Additionally, we conduct two case studies focusing on Colombia and Chile to analyse the groups most vulnerable to unmet health needs.ResultsThe population of WRA has increased to between 5 and 6.8%, and births have risen to approximately 3–8% in host countries due to Venezuelan migration. Yet, we found a general decrease in health coverage for certain age groups of Venezuelan female migrants in host countries for the period 2017–2022, particularly in Chile. By 2022, an estimated 20% of healthcare needs remained unmet among children, girls, and younger Venezuelan women, contributing to greater health inequalities between Venezuelan-born adolescents and those from other countries of birth.ConclusionsOur findings highlight the escalating demand for and limited access to healthcare services among Venezuelan WRA in their destinations. Unmet healthcare needs are particularly prevalent among younger women by 2022, underscoring the urgency for health system to incorporate gender-responsive, equitable interventions and ensuring health rights for high-risk migrant groups such as infants, children, adolescents, and younger women. Addressing these challenges remains a critical task for the regional public health agenda in Latin America.

Civil society, local government and rural health in an eastern Indian state

ABSTRACT This paper explores how civil society mobilization makes a difference in local government performance in delivering rural healthcare. The study was carried out during 2019–2020 in tribal-dominated Nilgiri and Daringbadi blocks of Odisha state in eastern India. Civil society activism is found to interject more programmatic priorities into local governance of health in Nilgiri than in Daringbadi. Success in Nilgiri is linked to its history of subaltern mobilization, the organizational efforts of a pro-poor political party and a comparatively mobilized civil society. Conversely, failure in Daringbadi is linked to a fractured community, little if any history of civil society mobilization and hegemony of the ruling party which uses local government to advance its own political agenda.

Media Coverage of Suicidal Behaviour in the Context of Slovenian independence

Slovenia was part of Yugoslavia and became independent in 1991 after a ten-day war. Slovenia had the highest suicide rate of all the member states of Yugoslavia. All young men in Yugoslavian states served the military out of their home state and some soldiers returned in a coffin because of suicide. This, among other factors, was the trigger for the discussion about independence, in which Slovenian newspapers played a part. Suicide rates tend to be lower in wartime, but soldiers also face an array of risk factors for suicidality. The aim of the study was to understand which stories about suicide were published in the Slovenian newspapers Delo and Večer. We analyzed the period before, during and after independence. We found three predominant themes: stories about Slovenian soldiers, political agenda and informative articles. Political agenda was in the foreground before independence, namely the desire for independence and later the consequences of independence. Stories about Slovenian soldiers were most common in the period of independence, with tales of actual suicides with the use of firearms as a method of suicide. In the post-independence period, we have mainly identified articles that give an insight into society's attitude towards suicide. This study sheds light on how suicide in the military was portrayed in the Slovenian media before, during and after independence.

Samomor kot slovenska metafora: k intelektualni zgodovini samomora kot metafore v socialistični Sloveniji

Between the 1960s and 1980s, suicide was frequently discussed as a major social issue in the Slovenian public sphere, leading to the establishment of the idea of Slovenians as a "suicide nation." In her book "Illness as Metaphor," Susan Sontag examines how society uses illness as a metaphor for moral, psychological, and political conditions, often resulting in the stigmatization of patients. This perspective is valuable for understanding the representations of suicide in socialist Slovenia. This paper analyses the influence of the metaphor of the "nation of suicides" on political thought and discourse in socialist Slovenia. It explores how intellectuals used or rejected this idea in their debates and how they adapted expert discussions and statistics to their political agendas. The concept of suicide as a "Slovenian problem" emerged in the late 1960s, supported by statistics and high-profile cases of suicide among young people from prominent cultural and political families.

An Analysis of the Religious Solidarity Discourses Regarding the Syrian Refugees in Türkiye

Following the outbreak of the civil war in Syria, a massive migration of Syrian nationals to Türkiye has been a significant phenomenon. This situation has become a problematic issue, as the massive presence of Syrian refugees in Türkiye has become an important part of the domestic political agenda. The politicization of the refugee issue has long since presented a duality of conflicting opinions among the Turkish society, whereas it has led to political debates between pro-government and opposition groups. In light of these developments, Turkish government elites have produced discourses of religious solidarity with the aim of providing tolerance and social acceptance for Syrian refugees and thus legitimizing the open door policy of the government toward these refugees. The aim of this study is to analyze and categorize the themes that constitute the basis of the discourses of religious solidarity regarding Syrian refugees in Türkiye. In this context, a second aim is to demonstrate how these themes have been welcomed in a positive manner by their adoption and recognition by Turkish society. To these aims, governmental discourses of religious solidarity and a sample consisting of 980 posts on the digital platform X have been analyzed by using the critical discourse analysis technique and have been categorized under two discursive themes, namely the ensar–muhacir analogy and the emphases on the Ottoman legacy. The conformity between these discourses and the government’s ideological orientation and the degree to which these discourses have been welcomed and adopted by the Turkish society have been discussed in detail.

WeAreEurope SD – A playful Sustainable Development Education Approach for Primary School Level

Sustainable Development (SD) has been in the EU’s political Agenda for the past decades. In 2001, the EU established a SD Strategy and more recently contributed to the UN’s 2030 Agenda for SD, reaffirming the political importance it attributes to this pressing matter. Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) plays a vital role in pushing forward the Agenda for SD. The WAE-SD project has been designed so as to offer a variety of complementary learning solutions that use active learning, game-based learning, and storytelling, among others. These solutions have the potential to engage children, address more complex concepts in a comprehensive manner, contribute to the development of other XXI century and basic competencies, like literacy, teamwork, social competences, ICT skills, among others. The WAE-SD project addresses the educational needs of children (6-10 years old) at 3 levels: a) Envision the future: depict what might happen if we don’t change our lifestyles, so that they better understand what’s at stake, b) What needs to change: learn about the UN’s SD Goals, so that they better understand what should be addressed/emended to create a more sustainable world, and c) Call to Action: learn what we can do as individuals and as part of a community to reach the UN’s SD Goals, and act. To this purpose, the project delivers three results: a) an eBook to illustrate a future scenario for the Planet if we keep up with our lifestyle, b) A Game Add-on to the pre-existing WeAreEurope Digital Game, to introduce and explore the UN’s SD Goals, thus presenting children with what needs to be changed for a more sustainable Planet, and c) an Action Kit, consisting of guidelines for the implementation of SD projects/activities for schools and other settings, thus promoting real change in behaviours and attitudes. This paper focuses on the designed material and the proposed ways of utilizing them in classroom settings

Empowering the periphery: regional planning perspective to left-behind places

Left-behind places, characterized by population decline, economic stagnation, and social decay, present complex challenges that demand regional and place-based plan- ning solutions. Distinguishing the importance of peripheral areas in this perspective is highly crucial, despite their absence from decision-makers’ political agendas as in the case of ne- glecting them due to physical or mental barriers prolongs these disparities. This exploration underlines the regional planning perspective aimed at empowering the periphery, focusing on possible strategies to revive left-behind areas and foster local development. Providing insights from urban planning and regional development, this work discusses the dynamics of decline in the regions and unfolds key principles and approaches for regional level intervention. By emphasizing place-based strategies, this exploration offers input for policymakers, planners, and practitioners seeking to address the spatial disparities and promote different perspec- tives on left-behind places. There are several strategies to employ local resources, and start transformative change, consequently expected to result in advancing the agenda of regional development. Planners must prioritize social infrastructure changes to address diverse needs and promote the well-being of communities within left-behind places, ensuring inclusive local development.