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.