Regional Models of Sustainability Governance: An Analysis of the First Integrated Strategies for Territorial Development in Portugal

Abstract

Sustainable development implies a balanced approach between the environmental, economic and social dimensions. However, the mobilization of such balance by political practices has always been a  fragile and complex exercise, constrained at the political processes, by conflicting priorities and agendas. In the European Union (EU) and Portugal as a Member State, such influence between political processes and practices is particularly pertinent in a framework of experimentation of multilevel governance as a new paradigm and territory as a factor of rationality of public policies. In this sense, this paper analyzes the regional models of sustainability governance which resulted from the first Integrated Territorial Development Strategies (ITDS) elaborated in Portugal for the 20142020 Community Cycle. Sustaining methodologically in the content analysis at 23 ITDS, it was concluded that sustainable development was mobilized according to three models: 1.) one that demonstrates the logic of territorial cohesion (bottom up projection  of endogenous natural resources); 2.) one that demonstrates a logic of ecological modernization (top-down assertion of the Europe 2020 strategy in terms of maximizing funding); and 3.) a hybrid between the first two. According to these models, it was sought to contribute to public policies, evidencing the discussion of the governance of sustainability and the resulting political strategies.