ABSTRACT
The final chapter in this book does two things. Firstly, it provides a set of conclusions based on the case studies and the objectives that informed the overall research agenda, addressing the question: what can we learn from these different local development actions? The second aim is to suggest a number of policy consequences and considerations that emerge from the research. All in all the present volume offers a wealth of significant contextual information regarding different factors that affect place-based strategies as well as the possibilities for effective action to address spatial injustices. Although the focus is on European localities, RELOCAL’s results are of wider interest and the lessons learned provide broad insights regarding the why and how as well as the outcomes of place-based action. In structuring the main messages emerging from the RELOCAL project and the individual contributions in this book, we have identified five key issues which are elaborated in the chapter. These issues relate to:
understanding perceptions of spatial justice as a key to addressing them,
questions of scale which are locally significant in complex ways
the ways in which grassroots action can be empowered and the challenges that place-based and participatory development generate for (an often weak) civil society
addressing the need for greater learning opportunities, capacity building and experimentation
the issue that despite its apparent desirability, place-based action often faces ‘hostile’ governance environments
