WP4

WP4. In-depth local case studies

Coordinator: University of Catania

Focus and objectives

This WP is dedicated to the in-depth analysis of 2-4 case studies in each of the five regions, which feature either emblematic or contradictory ‘stories’ (whether of success or failures) in the implementation of regional policies. The case studies are to be selected at the end of WP3 and carried out through extensive fieldwork, with the involvement of local actors. The aim of these in-depth analyses is to highlight how endogenous factors, including the legacy of previous policies and transformations and the local institutional capital, have affected the implementation of regional policies and local economic, social and territorial transformations. A very preliminary list includes:

BASILICATA
- Matera: from land reform and petrochemical industries to cultural tourism
- Melfi: post-fordist automotive vs food & wine industries

CALABRIA
- Graecanic area: Fordist industrial ventures vs ‘Leader’ programme
- Alto Tirreno Cosentino coast: industrial park vs unplanned tourist development
- ‘Area of the Straight’: from industrial poles (Milazzo, Gioia Tauro) to logistics and SEZs

APULIA
- ‘Aerospace District’: from industrial pole to cluster/innovation strategy
- ‘Mechatronics District’ and the industry 4.0 strategy
- The ‘furniture district’ of Santeramo-Altamura-Gioia del Colle and the challenges of globalization

CAMPANIA
- Nola area: from specialized agriculture to logistics
- Napoli-Nord area: the co-existence of ‘old’ industrial complexes (automotive, aircraft) and new SME districts
- Salerno area: from industrial decline to new tourism- and agri-food-based strategies

SICILY
- East-Central Sicily: the long term effects of the Land reform and industrial agriculture
- East-Central Sicily: the ambivalent legacy of the water supply public projects
- Catania-Ragusa-Siracusa area: from oil processing to sustainable energy

Activities and milestones

Kick-off workshop (WS2; M13)
Definition of analytical template to frame local case studies (M13)
Field work and local networking (interviews and local stakeholders meetings; M13-20)
Intermediate workshop to discuss and compare preliminary findings (WS3; M20)
Writing of case study reports (M20-27)
Final WP4 workshop to identify main lessons (WS4; M27)
Writing of WP4 Report (case studies + summary and conclusions report) published ‘open access’ on the website (M27-29; D5)
Edited volume(s) (in Italian) with a synthesis of regional profiles and case studies (D6)

NEWS & EVENTS

2024-04-30

Final Project Conference

On June 20 and 21 2024, at the Aula Magna 'Ludovico Quaroni' of the Mediterranea University of Reggio Calabria, the Final Project Conference 'Policies for Southern Italy in the 21st Century. Lessons learned and future scenarios' was held.

NMP 2024 International Symposium

On May 22, 23 and 24 2024, at the Mediterranea University of Reggio Calabria, PRIN research units participated in the International Symposium 'Networks, Markets & People. Communities, Institutions and Enterprises towards post-humanism epistemologies and AI challenges' with the Thematic Session 'European Cohesion Policy and Regional Operational Programs in Calabria from 2000 to 2020 between Learning Processes and Structural Constraints'.

Regional Studies Association Winter Conference 2023

On 9 and 10 November 2023, the Winter Conference 2023 of the Regional Studies Association was held at the Great Cumberland Place Hotel in London. PRIN research units participated in the Special Session 'The evolution, implementation, and impact of community-led, place-based and territorially integrated local development programmes in the context of the European Cohesion Policy for less developed regions'.