Defending the past by challenging the future: spatial and institutional path dependencies in the Naples port-city region
Historical paths matter in port-city regions. Here, spatial patterns and governance arrangements are path dependent to the point that once certain paths have been established, these become hard to change. This defines a condition of institutional inertia that plays a significant role in preventing a...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2020-01-01
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| Series: | Regional Studies, Regional Science |
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| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/21681376.2020.1746193 |
| _version_ | 1828964607330353152 |
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| author | Paolo De Martino |
| author_facet | Paolo De Martino |
| author_sort | Paolo De Martino |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Historical paths matter in port-city regions. Here, spatial patterns and governance arrangements are path dependent to the point that once certain paths have been established, these become hard to change. This defines a condition of institutional inertia that plays a significant role in preventing any form of spatial change. Naples is an exemplar of how different actors have historically developed their own routines and planning tools, resulting in the spatial and governance separation still visible today. How do path dependencies influence the port–city (and regional) relationship we are experiencing today? Nowadays, ports operate in an increasingly changing environment where spatial and economic developments can be better understood as the results of actors’ interactions across different scales. In order to cope with global urgencies, such as energy, economic and societal transition, European infrastructure policies are driving many port authorities towards infrastructural integration and governance cooperation. This offers significant opportunities to improve relations among ports, but it mostly leaves out the interconnections with cities and larger regions. Moreover, it also challenges consolidated beliefs and planning cultures which have planned ports and cities as disconnected entities, at least since industrialization. In Naples, local and national authorities find it difficult to define a sustainable consistency of interests. Today, the Central Tyrrhenian seaport system is the new institutional umbrella overseeing the three main ports of the region: Naples, Castellammare di Stabia and Salerno. This paper investigates whether this new governance entity results in either an opportunity for change or a reinforcement of existing path dependencies. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T10:52:53Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a814aca3e77449bca7d2f4f1783bc4d7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2168-1376 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T10:52:53Z |
| publishDate | 2020-01-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Regional Studies, Regional Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-a814aca3e77449bca7d2f4f1783bc4d72022-12-21T23:05:08ZengTaylor & Francis GroupRegional Studies, Regional Science2168-13762020-01-017110811710.1080/21681376.2020.17461931746193Defending the past by challenging the future: spatial and institutional path dependencies in the Naples port-city regionPaolo De Martino0Department of Architecture and Urban Planning, Delft University of Technology, DelftHistorical paths matter in port-city regions. Here, spatial patterns and governance arrangements are path dependent to the point that once certain paths have been established, these become hard to change. This defines a condition of institutional inertia that plays a significant role in preventing any form of spatial change. Naples is an exemplar of how different actors have historically developed their own routines and planning tools, resulting in the spatial and governance separation still visible today. How do path dependencies influence the port–city (and regional) relationship we are experiencing today? Nowadays, ports operate in an increasingly changing environment where spatial and economic developments can be better understood as the results of actors’ interactions across different scales. In order to cope with global urgencies, such as energy, economic and societal transition, European infrastructure policies are driving many port authorities towards infrastructural integration and governance cooperation. This offers significant opportunities to improve relations among ports, but it mostly leaves out the interconnections with cities and larger regions. Moreover, it also challenges consolidated beliefs and planning cultures which have planned ports and cities as disconnected entities, at least since industrialization. In Naples, local and national authorities find it difficult to define a sustainable consistency of interests. Today, the Central Tyrrhenian seaport system is the new institutional umbrella overseeing the three main ports of the region: Naples, Castellammare di Stabia and Salerno. This paper investigates whether this new governance entity results in either an opportunity for change or a reinforcement of existing path dependencies.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/21681376.2020.1746193port citiespath dependencehistorical institutionalisminstitutional inertiaregionalisationeuropean commissionnaplesgovernance |
| spellingShingle | Paolo De Martino Defending the past by challenging the future: spatial and institutional path dependencies in the Naples port-city region Regional Studies, Regional Science port cities path dependence historical institutionalism institutional inertia regionalisation european commission naples governance |
| title | Defending the past by challenging the future: spatial and institutional path dependencies in the Naples port-city region |
| title_full | Defending the past by challenging the future: spatial and institutional path dependencies in the Naples port-city region |
| title_fullStr | Defending the past by challenging the future: spatial and institutional path dependencies in the Naples port-city region |
| title_full_unstemmed | Defending the past by challenging the future: spatial and institutional path dependencies in the Naples port-city region |
| title_short | Defending the past by challenging the future: spatial and institutional path dependencies in the Naples port-city region |
| title_sort | defending the past by challenging the future spatial and institutional path dependencies in the naples port city region |
| topic | port cities path dependence historical institutionalism institutional inertia regionalisation european commission naples governance |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/21681376.2020.1746193 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT paolodemartino defendingthepastbychallengingthefuturespatialandinstitutionalpathdependenciesinthenaplesportcityregion |