The Local Action Group and rural development by local actors: an Apulian case study, and a circumstantial method of assessing failure

This book is part of a Nalional lnterest Research Program (2009-2011) entitled Nuove forme di governance locale come strumento di sviluppo strategico del territorio. Una ricerca comparata in 6 regioni europee (Andalusia, Brandeburgo. Puglia, Sicilia, Toscana. Veneto), in which a depth analysis was carried out on six European regions. Among them was Puglia, in ltaly, a region of the Convergence Objective during 2007-2013 programming cycle. This publication, although appropriately inserted in this research framework, is entirely dedicated lo the Puglia region, through a multidisciplinary approach. Here, detailed analysis have been conducted by scholars in different dìscìplines (agricultural economìcs, geography, sociology, psychology, political science). Looking at the overall experience, it is possible lo highlight the main critical issues but also the potentialities of thìs long and interesting path. This book argues that the regional policy needs too evolve by rethinking some key aspects of the territorial, bottom-up approach.