The underdogs of geographical categorization - Shifting understanding of peripheral regions towards a human-agency approach
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2025-06-20
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en
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This thesis critically examines the concept of regional peripherality in the Netherlands, arguing that current spatial categorizations, often based solely on structural indicators or geographic distance from urban cores, oversimplify the complex realities of regional development. Using the Dutch province of Gelderland as a case study, the research challenges dominant binary frameworks such as ‘core vs. periphery’, which risk reinforcing spatial polarization and overlooking local agency. Through a mixed-method approach combining statistical analysis with a case study-approach on human agency supplemented by a semi-structured interview, the thesis introduces an alternative framework grounded in human agency. It utilizes the concepts of opportunity space and economic path development, emphasizing how differentiated actor compositions and power relations among actors within regions influence their developmental potential. The findings suggest that peripherality is not a static condition, but a relational and dynamic process shaped by both structural constraints and human agency. Regions labeled as 'left behind' may still possess transformative capacity if opportunity spaces are fostered. Ultimately, this thesis advocates for a more nuanced and agency-informed understanding of peripherality that moves beyond static spatial typologies, offering fresh insights for both academic theory and regional policy.
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Faculteit der Managementwetenschappen