The doctoral dissertation addresses territorial marginality, focusing on mountain and metro-mountain areas and how they can be redefined through innovative governance and welfare policies. Historically neglected, these territories are gaining focus due to recent crises. The research aims to rethink governance and welfare to meet the needs of marginalised areas, emphasising socio-spatial justice.
Using the Terre del Monviso (Cuneo, Italy) as a case study, the work analyses processes of marginalization and explores institutional and bottom-up responses to foster territorial cohesion and accessibility to services. The dissertation is structured in three parts: 1) socio-spatial justice and inequalities in access to essential services; 2) spatial planning and governance, distinguishing between ‘hard’ (formal) and ‘soft’ (participatory) spaces ; and 3) the role of spatial imaginaries in policy construction.
The doctoral scholarship, focusing on issues related to inland and marginalised areas of the country, was funded by the Development and Cohesion Fund as part of the ‘Research and Innovation 2015-2017’ Plan, with reference to DDG MIUR 1233 of 30 July 2020. ‘National Operational Programme for Research and Innovation 2014-2020 Research Plan 30 July 2020 ‘National Operational Programme for Research and Innovation 2014-2020 Research and Innovation Plan 2015-2017 XXXVI Cycle’.
