Territorial marginality: causes, methods and policies. Introduction to the Special Issue

What are the different factors that make a territory marginal? Are contextual features related to spatial, socio-economic, institutional, or cultural elements differently influencing marginality in different countries? These are the questions at the origin of this Special Issue. To explore the complexity of territorial marginality and the several dimensions that contribute to defining it, this Special Issue collects seven works that explore conceptual issues, possible conflicts, and challenges for developing marginal territories. We explore the conditions that cause or define marginality, the dimensions that should structure a definition, suitable quantitative and qualitative indicators to classify marginal territories, and the features of territorial policies and strategies to address them. The papers explore different meanings of marginality using diverse research methods: quantitative approaches address the use of cultural heritage, population ageing, the lack of infrastructures and the limitations of existing policy approaches; mixed-method approaches combine statistical indicators with qualitative methods to explore landscape features and workspaces in marginal areas; finally, qualitative approaches analyse causes and impact of marginality in everyday life.