Handbook of Territorial Governance

The Edward Elgar’s Handbook of Territorial Governance defines territorial governance as the political decision-making process through which choices are made on the ordering of space, i.e. the definition and control of land uses. This process is carried out mainly through the technical function of spatial planning. However, the use of the term governance cannot hide the fact that only governments ultimately have the power to regulate how land is divided, transformed and used. Rather, the multiplicity and complexity of decision-making forms that challenge the principle of hierarchy in our time make the outcomes of territorial governance interesting also in light of its relationships with spatial planning. As editors of this collection of contributions, we try to highlight and clarify the blurrier and often controversial aspects of this subject. To do so, we explore territorial governance from three independent but complementary standpoints, which have helped shaping the structure of the handbook: Theories, Themes and Geographies. In more detail, the chapters included in the Theories section address the possible ambiguities of the concept from multiple perspectives. Those pertaining to the Themes section explore the subject in relation to concrete issues of spatial and sectoral policy. Finally, the contributions included in the Geographies section are devoted to discussing the ways in which territorial governance is currently addressed and practiced around the world. It is the first time that territorial governance is approaches in such a comprehensive way. In this light, it is hoped that the handbook will appeal to scholars, policymakers, practitioners and ordinary readers from a global perspective. At the same time, all the the 39 chapters included in the collection are self-contained and can be read separately, in so doing providing as many useful entry points on the subject to those readers that are interested only in selected aspects of territorial governance.