ABSTRACT
The "active space" approach is a relatively new approach to regional development that addresses the local-global debate. Regions as territorial systems are facing a number of structural features that influence their development over time. Regions have a distinct location in the national-economic space and the European Union, and distinct connections with other - complementary and competitive – regions, at a short distance or far away in a global context. Regions have a certain carrying capacity in terms of social and economic resources, and ecological potentials. In Europe, the type of barriers or conversely of opportunities that prevail are to some extent connected to the location of the border regions at hand in the national economic space and in the European Union (EU), particularly in EU inner border areas or outer border areas. The chapter also presents an overview of key concepts discussed in this book.
