2021/2022
Contemporary Regional and Spatial Policy
Type:
Optional course (faculty)
Delivered by:
School of Politics and Governance
Where:
Faculty of Social Sciences
When:
4 module
Open to:
students of all HSE University campuses
Language:
English
ECTS credits:
3
Contact hours:
32
Course Syllabus
Abstract
The course introduces students to some key theoretical and practical debates and insights concerning local and regional development and spatial policy. The subject is problematized against the current trends of increased social and spatial inequality and the imperative of achieving sustainable and inclusive development. Pressures of competition, globalisation and neoliberalisation have led to the decline of traditional industries and the growth of new sectors, innovation industries and cultural businesses. Places and regions across the world are forced to find new ways to accommodate the multiple challenges generated by contemporary capitalism and to ensure prosperity and wellbeing for their citizens. The course discusses the purposes, principles, values, frameworks of understanding, key dilemmas, approaches and interventions in local and regional development. It seeks to answers to the following questions. How can we explain why some places are more successful than others? What factors and actors shape spatial development policy? What implications do different political and economic ideologies have on urban and regional development? What models of development have been pursued nationally and internationally? What are the promises of sustainability for spatial development? How does the community matter for enhancing local economic development? The course equips students with intellectual skills and vision to identify policy problems and viable solutions. It also encourages the development of critical thinking and the ability to understand policy dilemmas and broader implications of different policy choices. This is to ensure that students - as future practitioners - understand and are able to deal with the local and regional development problems at a deeper analytical level.