Territorial cohesion is a guiding principle for EU policy, alongside social cohesion and economic cohesion, yet in recent years territorial inequalities within the EU have widened as the post-2008 economic crisis and adoption of austerity policies have had an uneven geographical impact. There is, accordingly, a pressing need to re-appraise the appropriateness and efficacy of existing policy instruments for tackling territorial inequalities, and to consider and develop alternative mechanisms. In order to achieve this aim, IMAJINE will adopt a multi-disciplinary approach that combines qualitative and quantitative data and macro-scale analysis and case study research, involving economists, geographers, political scientists, psychologists and sociologists. The University of Helsinki is leading the WP 1 (Conceptual and Policy Review) of the IMAJINE project. In this WP our research team uses interviews and document analysis to outline the development and conceptualisation of ‘Spatial Justice’ and ‘Territorial Inequality’ in academic literature, EU policy, and among regional policy makers.
Dr Mikko Weckroth, post-doc researcher