Unbalanced Development and Peripheralisation Processes: a Testing Phase to Map Studies

In many regions, an unbalanced dichotomic development based on core and peripheral areas has increased territorial inequalities affecting places, communities and economies. The peripheralisation processes are causing several disadvantages, in terms of socio-economic negative trends, abandonment of cultural heritage and increasing of environmental risks. The CNR IRISS research aims at investigating approaches to contrast marginalisation trends and support balanced development processes. Starting from a first screening of scientific literature, different fields of study have emerged, ranging from regional sciences to geography and urban studies, from economics to social studies, and different terms have come out such as internal areas, inland areas, and inner peripheries. The aim of this research phase is to implement a systematic literature review to explore the multiplicity of terms related to unbalanced development and peripheralisation processes, to investigate possible connections with different scientific disciplines and/or geo-political contexts also by analysing the evolution of the debate over time. This work presents a testing phase aimed at verifying the adequacy of the selected methodology and selected items and at sharing them with the scientific community in order to consolidate and enrich the methodological framework, and to organise the follow-up activities.