Territorialisation of Public Policies, Process or Approach?

Abstract

This text addresses the theme of the Territorialisation of Public Policies (TPP) from a “process” and “approach” perspetives, seeking to contribute to the theoretical-conceptual clarification of what are ‘territorial’ and ‘territorialized’ policies. Through a literature review on the theme, the text discusses the TPP in view of the importance that the territory has acquired in the development options in a globalization framework, highlighting a process of reformulation of the role of the State in which place-based policies are the latest approach. By surveying the existing typologies about the public policy-territory relationship, and by presenting a concrete case for discussion (Programa Rede Social), it is concluded that we are facing a ‘2nd generation
of public policies’ in which this approach is not exclusive to territorial development policies (within the influence of Cohesion Policy), or typically territorial policies (such as spatial planning policies), but which is also present in traditionally sectoral policies.