Territorial Development Processes Research Articles

Engaging for Sustainable Development and Transformation – Exploring the Concept of Transformative Academic Institutions

Abstract Universities are expected to play a proactive role in the sustainable development and transformation of their regions. However, they face external and internal barriers to play that role. One possible approach to overcome those barriers is through transformative academic institutions (TAIs). TAIs are defined as research centres created within universities to proactively engage in territorial development processes and can act as ‘living labs’ from which universities can draw lessons when developing a regionally engaged role. The article explores the TAI concept further by posing the following research question: How does the TAI approach look like in different contexts? What factors support and/or hinder TAI development? To that end, we analyse the case of five academic partners working in different organisational research settings within larger university structures. Our exploration of TAI practices followed an action research approach with participatory design methods to identify commonalities, challenges, and opportunities. Findings point to a more strategic partnering with external (non-academic) actors to contribute to (longer-term) change processes that address regional sustainability challenges. This can take universities towards new roles in curating collective knowledge and catalysing and facilitating change.

Reformulating action research to facilitate territorial responses to climate change

This article serves as an introduction to the special issue by presenting the results of a learning process shared by action researchers coming from different action research traditions and geographical areas. The goal of this learning process has been to generate explicit criteria and features that action researchers can integrate in their facilitative work in territorial development processes to make these development processes more effective in facing climate change. These criteria relate to the roots of climate change, justice, innovative ways to understand democracy and governance, the contribution of feminism to climate change and the role of emotions when facing it. These reflections and learnings are synthesized into twelve principles for action research for territorial development (ARTD).

Increasing the involvement of citizens in the decision-making process of territorial development through digitalization

Object: The introduction of participatory budgeting in a digital format in order to increase civic engagement in making managerial decisions on territorial development. The hypothesis of the study is that digital participatory budgeting increases the role of institutions of local government and civil society. Methods: The study used the method of content analysis in the study of foreign experience and normative legal acts regulating the activities of local self-government of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Findings: Based on the results of the analysis, it was revealed that the policy of decentralization affects the territorial development of developed countries. The level of decentralization is closely related to how local governments perform their role in the distribution of various functions within the public administration system and is crucial for regional development. In this regard, the project "Organization of a set of measures aimed at the development of local self-government" in Kazakhstan uses a digital platform of participatory budgeting to involve citizens, public organizations, local authorities and local community meetings for the uniform development of the country's regions. Conclusions: Currently, the Republic of Kazakhstan is in the process of building a new model of interaction between the state apparatus and citizens based on the principle of "human-centricity". The conducted research shows that the use of digital platforms contributes to an increase in the activity of citizens in the process of making managerial decisions. The Berekeli Bastama project, launched at the level of the entire republic, can become a driver for the development of participatory budgeting and the development of the territory as a whole.

Book Review of “Planificarea teritoriala integratã a unui sistem montan complex. Microregiunea Bazinul Dornelor” [Integrated Territorial Planning of a Complex Mountain System. Dornelor Basin Microregion], authored by Daniela Antonescu, LUMEN Publishing, 2024

The book titled “Planificarea teritoriala integrata a unui sistem montan complex. Microregiunea Bazinul Dornelor” [Integrated Territorial Planning of a Complex Mountain System. Dornelor Basin Microregion], published in April 2024, is the latest book by the author, Daniela Antonescu, scientific researcher II at the Mountain Economy Center of the Romanian Academy. With over 25 years of experience in academic research, the author follows the trajectory of the integrated territorial planning and development process in the Dornelor Basin Microregion, providing a complete, relevant and objective picture of the profile of this Romanian mountain area characterized by a special beauty and importance.

Rompendo o ciclo de emergência da justiça espacial

This paper examines the critical need to integrate prospective planning into territorial development processes for achieving spatial justice and sustainable urban futures. It highlights the limitations of a reactive approach to urban governance, particularly prevalent in Latin America, where weak institutions and unstable political systems often hinder long-term perspectives. The research emphasizes the importance of strategic foresight as a complementary tool to traditional planning practices. Territorial foresight facilitates the exploration of complex future scenarios, fostering collaborative learning and a shared vision among stakeholders. The study proposes a shift towards a proactive, foresight-driven approach that can help break the vicious cycle of addressing only immediate crises. By embracing prospective studies, urban planners and policymakers can gain insights into potential future trajectories, enabling them to anticipate challenges, adapt strategies, and make informed decisions aligned with long-term goals. This paper draws on discourse analysis to examine the work of Latin American institutions and scholars engaged in foresight studies. Ultimately, the paper advocates for a paradigm shift in urban governance, prioritizing long-term strategic vision. This is essential for overcoming the fragmentation of urban planning, addressing systemic inequalities, and laying the groundwork for more just, resilient, and sustainable urban territories.

Моделі територіального розвитку на засадах застосування процесного бізнес-орієнтованого підходу

The possibilities of applying a process-oriented business approach in territorial development models have been investigated. The process-oriented business approach is characterized as a strategic method involving the active participation of enterprises and businesses in stimulating and fostering the development of specific territories and communities. Standard features and differences between process and project approaches in territorial development systems have been examined. It has been determined that a project and a business process share specific characteristics, such as being defined over time, endowed with specific resources, and having defined stages to transform ‘inputs’ into ‘outputs.’ It has been proven that a project differs from a business process in that it concludes upon achieving the planned goal. In contrast, a business process is continually repeated, undergoing minor changes in the process of improvement or adaptation. The classification of business processes in the territorial development model has been explored. The components of the process stages in the territorial development model have been identified and characterized: analysis of business processes, stakeholder collaboration, and involvement, formulation of development strategies, integration of innovations and digital technologies, monitoring, and evaluation of intermediate results. Thus, the use of a process-oriented business approach in a territorial development model provides an opportunity not only to manage the region’s business processes effectively but also to create the basis for a flexible and sustainable development system that can adapt to changes in its environment and contribute to the overall improvement of the quality of life in the region. Using a process-oriented business approach allows integration and optimization of the various business processes of territorial development, making them more focused and effective. The focus on stakeholder participation in the development process guarantees a wide range of perspectives and helps to consider regional groups’ different needs and interests. One of the key advantages is the ability to quickly adapt to changes in the economic, social, and environmental environment. The model can quickly respond to new challenges and integrate innovative solutions. A process-oriented business approach contributes to the competitiveness of territories, ensuring optimal use of resources and creating favorable conditions for attracting investment. This approach makes territorial development consistent with the requirements of sustainable development and more sustainable, thanks to the systematic monitoring, assessment, and correction of strategies. Keywords: territorial development, process-oriented business approach, project, business process, territorial development model.

Territorial governance as synergic capital in the development of local latin american production systems

Based on the recognition of the challenges that have led to a paradigmatic shift in the logic of managing territorial development strategies and the theoretical assumptions generated around it, this study delved into the understanding of territorial governance in Latin American contexts by analyzing the intangible capitals present in local productive systems. The hypothesis was that a positive cohesion of these capitals in a governance scheme would allow for the activation of development processes in the system. After a critical and analytical investigation of the theoretical postulates and available experiences, it was concluded that governance, as a management model, is key to stabilizing intangible capitals in complex productive systems such as those in Latin America. The activation of synergistic capital in these systems is hindered by constant "short circuits," so strengthening these capitals through collaborative governance is essential to improve coordination and transparency in decision- making and thus generate territorial development processes.

Contribution to the theory of territorial development: a territorial innovations approach

ABSTRACT This paper provides a new definition of territorial development based on two engines, production and governance relations, and linked to a broader conception of territorial innovation. Starting with a short survey of previous works, it presents the two major building blocks, and proposes a detailed categorisation of territorial innovations, their origin, and their contribution to production and governance dynamics. It then draws a definition and a description of territorial development processes based on these two engines, and in conclusion opens the way for future researches on bifurcations and ruptures of trajectories emerging from territorial innovations.

Acquisition Process of a Territorial Development Management System in the Udmurt Republic in Terms of System Analysis

This article is devoted to the acquisition process of a Territorial Development Management System in the Udmurt Republic, which can be defined as a concept of managing the territory development and urban policy, representing all the actions implemented within the framework of this event as a set of interrelated processes, each of which can also be divided into sub-processes aimed at achieving specific tasks. The complexity of the system makes it difficult to perceive. In this article, the territorial development management system is considered as a process management system, since territorial development implies a set of many processes aimed at achieving the goal. System analysis or its tools, in turn, make it possible to decompose the process of system acquisition into components (stages) that are simpler in terms of complexity. Simplifying the system perception will reduce resources, including time, spent in the process of its development. Thus, the purpose of the scientific work is to present the process of system acquisition for managing territorial development in the Udmurt Republic in terms of system analysis. The paper analyzes the existing problems characteristic of the territorial development process, and also determines the relationship between the development of territories and the urban planning policy pursued by the authorities of the constituent entity of the Russian Federation. The identified problems are also typical for the Udmurt Republic. The processes that make up the system for managing the territorial development of the region are determined, which made it possible to single out the basic components of such a system: subsystems and elements. In scientific work, the stages of system analysis are defined and expressed in the form of a model that is a reference for system analysis carried out in the development of process control systems. The result of the work is a model (scheme) showing the process of acquisition a Territorial Development Management System in the Udmurt Republic in terms of system analysis. The model reflects the stages of system analysis, adapted in accordance with the purpose of scientific research, indicates their content and implementation method. The use of the obtained scheme in the development of management systems for the territorial development of any region will reduce time costs and increase the manageability of this process.

AGGREGATION DEVELOPMENT AS AN ELEMENT OF URBAN PLANNING

In the conditions of decentralized development, the processes of ensuring the management of territorial planning have new tasks and challenges. With the beginning of the full-scale military aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, thousands of square meters of territory were in the zone of active hostilities. Restoration of these territories, return of peaceful life, provision of comfortable living conditions for the population will become the basic priority of the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine. In addition, thousands of people became forced migrants and refugees, which significantly affected the socio-economic processes of territorial development. Breaks in cooperation ties, logistics chains, business closings and relocations formed a new system of realities of territorial development. The return of the population to the territory that suffered the greatest destruction is possible only thanks to the orientation to people-centered management as an element of territorial development, which will be based on taking into account the modern requests of the population for the comfort and safety of housing, workplace, recreation, etc. A new challenge for territorial development will be the aspects of psychological rehabilitation, which, as a priority task for the state and local authorities, should be integrated into the modern urban planning system. Taking into account the relevance and formation of new requests of Ukrainian society for the development of territories, the topic of the dissertation research was determined. In particular, the processes of the development of agglomerations, as a leading world trend of urban planning, are planned to be proposed as the basis of post-war reconstruction in order to ensure the competitiveness of the territories and their compliance with the new challenges of today.

МОНИТОРИНГ СОЦИАЛЬНО-ЭКОНОМИЧЕСКОГО РАЗВИТИЯ ДОНЕЦКОЙ И ЛУГАНСКОЙ НАРОДНЫХ РЕСПУБЛИК

The article monitors the socio-economic development of the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics. Analysis of data from individual industries and sectors of the economy demonstrated their gradual growth and recovery. Attention is focused on the fact that this analysis is necessary to determine the reliability of regional systems and develop informed management decisions to solve existing economic problems. It has been established that one of the key elements in the formation of regional socio-economic policy, which largely determines the effectiveness of its implementation, and, consequently, the entire process of territorial development, is the reasonable identification of its priorities. In this regard, key priorities for the development of the socio-economic sphere of the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics were formed that contribute to the maximum extent to the achievement of strategic goals under existing restrictions, namely: industry, agro-industrial complex, infrastructure, financial sector, social sector, regional management, digitalization and research activities.

MODERN OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF TERRITORIAL COMMUNITIES IN UKRAINE

The problems of the development of territorial communities in the conditions of constant changes and the occurrence of unpredictable crises are studied. The dependence of the development of the entire country on the ability and interest of communities to engage in the local development of their territory is revealed. The importance of the need to adapt the development strategy of territorial communities to modern changes is emphasized. The need to constantly search for additional opportunities for the implementation of appropriate actions regarding the transformation of territorial communities in the direction of their improvement was emphasized. The importance of confronting negative influences that constantly arise at the local level is noted, and certain steps to overcome them (during and after the end of hostilities) are also proposed. An important role is assigned to effective strategic planning, which will take into account modern changes by the various characteristics of territorial communities. The essence of strategic planning and obstacles to its implementation are characterized. Some areas of activity of the Ministry of Development of Communities and Territories are outlined. The interrelationship of the local development planning process is presented and the tools of direct and indirect support for the development of territorial communities are provided. The importance of creating appropriate conditions for the organization of cooperation between territorial communities and its stimulation is emphasized. A list of important factors of change that will have a significant impact on local development and the development of new approaches to community development planning is given, and it is proposed to add to it public management factors of change, which include modern capabilities of the management system and an increase in the level of participation, cooperation and the growing importance of civil society in territorial development processes. Keywords: strategy, planning, territorial communities, changes, cooperation.

Local currencies for territorial development: lessons from a national survey in France

ABSTRACT This article analyses how convertible local currencies (CLCs) contribute to their circulating territory, in the case of France, where a systematic survey was held in 2019–20. It builds a framework in which CLCs contribute to a territorialized infrastructure and assume functions of territorial intermediation, thus supporting a territorial development process. It examines how the CLC organizations define their territory, before assessing the territorial development they carry, with evidence about their size, role in the territorial coordination of actors and governance issues. This assessment raises doubts about their actual contribution to territorial development, while possible achievements are discussed.

The participation of local actors in the development of the upstream Oueltana territorial municipalities, Azilal province (Morocco)

Participation has emerged as a form of development that has taken an important place in the official options of most countries. This trend has been especially reinforced with the disengagement of the State and the emergence of civil society as a development actor. The economic and social development of local communities is a major mission entrusted to them by the new charter. But the question we are asking ourselves is the following: is the community able to achieve such development on its own and without the contribution of other stakeholders? All the stakeholders in situ, such as local representatives, local authorities, civil servants, local population and entrepreneurs are supposed to contribute their part in order to achieve such development projects. Understanding the clauses of the participation of actors in development projects as well as the other actions carried out by the upstream municipalities of Oueltana (Azilal province, Morocco) enables us have a deep insight into the context and framework within which actors’ communication takes place. More interestingly, such understanding helps have a view about the types of relations that these actors hold among each other. In doing so, we could easily identify the scope of future mobilization and accountability actions so that they can finally follow the territorial development process.

Modeling of Territorial Community Development Processes

ity Local development of a certain area is formed under the influence of many criteria. The rapid pace of globalization of the world economy is one of the criteria that significantly affect the formation of new trends and patterns of local development. The manifestation of this criterion can be seen in the strengthening of the role of communities in the economic development of certain territories and countries. The Ukrainian state is already one of several countries whose societies have understood and accepted the importance of community interest in direct participation in local development. For key community representatives, the process of decentralization and changes in self-government processes will determine a fundamentally different level of responsibility for development. Consideration of such a concept of local community development will form the transformation of territorial communities from the object of government to the subject of government. And you will be able independently provide your own capacity. In general, local communities will be responsible for planning their development and economic well-being in the future. Given these perspectives, local authorities must have a good understanding of the specifics of modern development and have the necessary knowledge, information, skills, and experience to further ensure the competitiveness of their communities. The purpose of this study was to develop a system for choosing the best direction for the development of territorial communities, based on the resources belonging to these communities. This scientific work proposes to use the method of analysis of hierarchies to determine the direction of development of territorial communities, as this method allows to quantify the comparative importance of the criteria of the direction of development. The method of analysis of hierarchies involves pairwise comparisons of objects using subjective judgments, which are quantified on a certain scale. An important point in the comparison is the unbiased views of experts for the correct use of the method of analysis of hierarchies.

Оценка территориального уровня развития национальной экономики

The purpose of the study is to investigate the issues of the national economy of a socio-economic nature, to consider problems and to reveal the factors influencing the construction of an algorithm for the interconnection of systems in practice. In our opinion, studies of economic processes undoubtedly affect the social side of the development of the territory. In this connection, attention is paid to the results of efficiency in the management of the national economy of the territory, while focusing on the indicator of human capital development. The article provides an assessment of the current state of affairs in a particular subject of the Russian Federation, but some aspects raised in the study require an additional information block. The scientific novelty of this study lies in the addition to the theoretical and practical substantiations of the evaluation criteria of the national economy, aimed at determining the effectiveness of the processes of territorial development of the standard of living of the population. As a result, the considered structural factors are determined in terms of share influence, which allows us to conclude that the processes with external and internal influence are regulated, aimed at improving the standard of living of the population of the country's territories.

Landscape as a Scaling Strategy in Territorial Development

This article analyses how the established but still elusive concept of ‘landscape’ may strengthen territorial development processes in the face of complexity. In times of the Anthropocene, landscapes are best treated as spaces for experiential and relational being, rather than pure social constructs or rationalised physical objects. Using basic tenets of social-ecological and social-technical systems thinking, this article tests the hypothesis that landscape, considered as a socio-technical innovation, can be harnessed in territorial development as a scaling device to achieve resilient and adaptive territories. This approach opens the perspective that the transition towards landscape-territorial development and planning can proceed in three phases. Each phase reflects a society with different degrees of awareness of the landscape. The article reflects on ways to operationalise the proposed landscape-territorial approach. It is concluded that, rather than in calls for global landscape governance, it is ultimately in reconfigured place—that is, landscapes reclaimed, developed, protected, as the local actors require it—that new spheres of control and influence over the landscape emerge.

Цифровая зрелость градообразующего предприятия: оценка и влияние на развитие территории

Despite a significant number of studies on the development of single-industry towns and core enterprises, digital maturity of an enterprise and, subsequently, the impact of digital maturity of a core enterprise on the economic and social development of a territory remain an underdeveloped topic. Based on a hypothesis that digital maturity is a trigger for territorial development, this study assesses the digital maturity of core enterprises, i.e. their readiness to implement new technologies in all business processes for improving productivity and competitiveness. Digital maturity levels were determined according to the identification of strategic areas of activity, including unique technological competencies and personnel work. The proposed strategy for developing a new digital maturity model of enterprises takes into account the structure and content of existing models, since there are currently no best practices that can be scaled. In order to analyse digital maturity levels in detail, a survey of the expert community, as well interviews with digital transformation specialists were conducted. As a result, we constructed a digital maturity model of core enterprises that includes five levels, characterising organisational, production, human resources and external (impact on territorial development) processes. The parameter of the job creation multiplier was tested in the developed model. As a result, the conducted research confirmed the hypothesis that digital development of enterprises directly affects the territorial development. This, on the one hand, opens new opportunities for the socio-economic development of territories, and, on the other hand, places new demands on the digital infrastructure, quality of provided services, personnel competence, etc. The research results are of interest to state and local authorities, industry core enterprises, and the scientific community, as the obtained findings determine the prospects for studying digital maturity in relation to territorial and industrial development.

The Territorial Approach to the Integration of RES in Mountain Areas. Participatory Planning with the Support of 3D Representations: Examples of Application in the Eastern Mediterranean

Harmonising energy transition with the process of territorial development represents a substantial challenge for local mountain communities. This effort to harmonize RES (renewable energy sources) integration must escape the restrictive geometric and “point” approach to regulating the relationship between RES and landscape, and incorporate places included in the process of territorialisation by local communities. By incorporating functions and territorial resources, this transition modifies the nature and dimensions of the interfaces between the impacts of RES (landscape, land) and places of interest. As a result, it can determine the fields of a new regulatory framework for planning (location-resource-function-relationship). It can also contribute to the expansion of the definition of RES carrying capacity, which is constrained by the institutional framework. This whole process of harmonising RES integration reveals the need for local community participation in planning: as managers of territorial resources and as a source for a “territorial” information system through geo-visualisation. The whole methodological process incorporates territorial information in the planning of complex spatial issues, such as the integration of RES in territorial mountain areas. This process ultimately renews interactive participatory planning in a field where centrally—designed RES policy meets the bottom-up dynamics of territorialisation.

Mértola: Um Projeto de Desenvolvimento Local [Portugal

In an increasingly standardized global society, there is a growing demand for differentiating elements of territories. Components such as natural and built heritage, culture, history and traditions are thus understood as distinguishing, conferring notoriety and competitiveness. In Portugal, the low density areas, depressed or fragile, are in this horizon, the ones that can benefit most from this unprecedented, due to the urgency they show in attracting people and the indisputable need to generate development, create sources of wealth and opportunities. Based on this argumentation, the development strategies anchored in the preservation and sustainable valorization of the endogenous and inimitable resources of the territories, to which innovation, creativity and scale, should be increasingly prioritized. This study aims to highlight the processes of territorial development that are related to public policies that affect the potentialities of the territory of the municipality of Mértola [Portugal]. Thus, it is concluded that there is a greater need and involvement of all local tourism agents, as well as an increase in the incentive for the entire population to boost this increasingly important "engine" of economic and social development in this territories.