Regional development aims to improve the economic, social and environmental wellbeing of regions. However, it is a complex process involving many interrelated factors and influences. It is also a contested field and, like any other aspect of society, involves the exercise of power relations that can be either skewed or imbalanced.
One way to reveal the dynamics of these power relations is through narratives, a technique that is well-suited for exploring how dominant and marginalised perspectives on events are communicated and shared within a society. In particular, narratives can shed light on how and when power relationships are skewed in the context of regional development, by providing insight into how and why some narratives dominate while others are silenced.
Another way to elucidate the dynamic nature of these power relations is through an exploration of the role that language plays in constructing, shaping or reinforcing power structures in a region. This is particularly important in the case of regional development, where rhetoric can shape and reinforce social norms.
The literature on regional development is fragmented, but there are two influential strands. One is evolutionary economic geography (EEG), which views regional development as a process of evolution in business. The other is regional innovation systems (RIS), which argues that new development paths are dependent on the specific set of assets, economic actors, network capabilities and institutions that a region possesses. This article explores the interplay of these two perspectives and identifies the key issues that need to be addressed in future research on regional development.