Public Action and Territorial Development : The LEADER Approach in the Recomposition of Rural Spaces in Languedoc-Roussillon (France) and Andalusia (Spain)
Abstract
This article presents a study of the European programme LEADER 2007–
2013 in its role as a public policy mechanism for enhancing territorial development.
It focuses on the Local ActionGroups (LAGs) in the Languedoc-Roussillon region in
France and the Andalusia region in Spain and their efforts to tackle the development
problems of rural areas. In our geographical analysis we combine the processing of
statistical data with a case study in an attempt to assess the relationship between
public action and the socioeconomic development of rural areas. This analysis uses
the concept of territorial capital as a base for characterizing the different methods for
coordinating local development action. The LAGs operate on the principles of local,
bottom-up governance and are intended to be action systems that design development
strategies and implement projects based on the enhancement and promotion of local
resources. This study shows that the LEADER approach varies according to the
particular geographical context and depends on local stakeholders learning the rules
of public policy.