Regional development is a multifaceted concept that encompasses the enhancement of wealth and living conditions in subnational territories, and it is a key topic for a wide range of academic disciplines such as economics, geography, sociology and political science (Eiock, 2007; Medeiros, 2017; Kahler, 2022). The proper measures to achieve this goal are not always clear.
As a result, many scholars argue for a greater emphasis on the analysis of power relations in regional development research. Inspired by scholars like Gramsci, Bourdieu and Foucault, these researchers stress the importance of a better understanding of the hidden forms of domination and dominance that are often invisible to the naked eye.
In the literature, this argument is mainly developed through the use of narratives as analytical tools. The ability to register and communicate different stories about dominant or even marginalised events enables scholars to reveal how power relations are skewed, what they are based on and which actors have the potential to bring them to the surface.
However, this method has been used only sparingly in the field of regional development research, and most scholars still tend to analyse possible paths for regional development without addressing power relations. The authors of this article propose to change that by incorporating the analysis of narratives as a central part of regional development studies. This will allow us to understand the complex interplay between endogenous and exogenous factors in regional development processes, and thus enable us to better predict the future of regional societies and businesses.
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