Towards Resilient Regions: Some Conceptual and Policy Issues

Abstract

In recent years, resilience has re-emerged in development and planning debates, with roots in environmental sciences, particularly ecosystem ecology. Originally defined as the capacity of ecosystems to adapt and survive under changing environmental conditions, resilience is increasingly applied metaphorically to countries, regions, cities, and their subsystems. It is becoming a new guiding principle, following earlier emphases on sustainable development (1990s) and competitiveness (2000s). This raises questions about the meaning of resilience when applied to spatial development. From the perspective of spatial development policy and planning, two key questions arise: what is the content and significance of resilience in light of current economic crises and other regional challenges, and what are its implications for spatial planning, especially in vulnerable areas? Drawing on experiences from Greek metropolitan areas currently updating their strategic plans, the paper explores these conceptual and policy issues.