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Agency and structure in regional development: in search of a social science research programme

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Titel: Agency and structure in regional development: in search of a social science research programme
Autoren: Grillitsch, Markus, Sotarauta, Markku
Weitere Verfasser: Lund University, Faculty of Social Sciences, Departments of Administrative, Economic and Social Sciences, Department of Human Geography, Lunds universitet, Samhällsvetenskapliga fakulteten, Samhällsvetenskapliga institutioner och centrumbildningar, Institutionen för kulturgeografi och ekonomisk geografi, Originator, Lund University, Faculty of Engineering, LTH, Departments at LTH, Department of Design Sciences, CIRCLE, Lunds universitet, Lunds Tekniska Högskola, Institutioner vid LTH, Institutionen för designvetenskaper, CIRCLE, Originator
Quelle: European Planning Studies. 33(1):104-123
Schlagwörter: Social Sciences, Social and Economic Geography, Economic Geography, Samhällsvetenskap, Social och ekonomisk geografi, Ekonomisk geografi
Beschreibung: As a concept, agency stretches from philosophical and meta-theoretical elaborations to studies documenting largely idiosyncratic happenings in a particular empirical context, which could be dismissed as anecdotal. In between, and the source for the recent revival of scholarly interest, lies the promise to explain transformation processes, multiplex governance, and varieties in wellbeing and development pathways, which are needed in a world overshadowed by crises. Have studies on agency and structure lived up to the promise? Only partly, we argue and suggest that we need to develop a common ontological commitment as well as adequate mid-range theories and methods coherent with such a commitment. We suggest critical realism as the backbone of such a common ontological commitment and discuss potential ways forward for a social science research programme with emancipatory potential, this is to say to contribute to our capabilities to make a difference in the world.
Zugangs-URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/09654313.2024.2415125
Datenbank: SwePub
Beschreibung
Abstract:As a concept, agency stretches from philosophical and meta-theoretical elaborations to studies documenting largely idiosyncratic happenings in a particular empirical context, which could be dismissed as anecdotal. In between, and the source for the recent revival of scholarly interest, lies the promise to explain transformation processes, multiplex governance, and varieties in wellbeing and development pathways, which are needed in a world overshadowed by crises. Have studies on agency and structure lived up to the promise? Only partly, we argue and suggest that we need to develop a common ontological commitment as well as adequate mid-range theories and methods coherent with such a commitment. We suggest critical realism as the backbone of such a common ontological commitment and discuss potential ways forward for a social science research programme with emancipatory potential, this is to say to contribute to our capabilities to make a difference in the world.
ISSN:09654313
14695944
DOI:10.1080/09654313.2024.2415125