Smart development for peripheral areas. A never-ending story?

Many European countries have implemented development policies for regions and territories in order to contribute their growth reduce inequalities. The EU has developed cohesion smart which aim promote the of all gaps between them. implementation those raises questions about place role peripheral areas terms development. Will they remain under-developed regions, lagging behind? Or are able participate overall processes? topic our paper is an exploration areas, more especially, rural Europe. question arises as whether these are, despite handicaps, capable meeting challenges development, most satisfying conditions a process. In address potential we start by presenting before highlighting limits acceptance local people. We then show that there other types territorial innovations than identified well-known policies, finally propose strategies particular type area: territories. found even while devoted multiplied over last thirty years, inhabitants very often feel dissatisfied with situation express opposition through extreme votes or public demonstration. One major reasons this growing gap proliferation dissatisfaction population novelties coming from rarely considered encouraged current policies. latter attach too great importance technological dimensions mainly directed towards industrialized densely populated whereas stemming territories, real, concentrated primarily social, institutional, organizational fields. end, many disconnected needs, will, skills populations areas. avoid problems obstacles on paths advocate better adapted seriously consider innovative character. case Europe provides interesting insights because it shows mix ‘traditional’ social institutional possible, various mixes can be peculiarities regions; peri-urban remote agricultural forested lands. any case, important stress measures applied must respective characteristics different categories territory not based catalogue adaptable It at price may disjunction appearance zones separatism, dislocation community.