Agency and structure in regional development : in search of a social science research programme
(2025) In European Planning Studies 33(1). p.104-123- Abstract
As a concept, agency stretches from philosophical and meta-theoretical elaborations to studies documenting largely idiosyncratic happenings in a particular empirical context, which could be dismissed as anecdotal. In between, and the source for the recent revival of scholarly interest, lies the promise to explain transformation processes, multiplex governance, and varieties in wellbeing and development pathways, which are needed in a world overshadowed by crises. Have studies on agency and structure lived up to the promise? Only partly, we argue and suggest that we need to develop a common ontological commitment as well as adequate mid-range theories and methods coherent with such a commitment. We suggest critical realism as the... (More)
As a concept, agency stretches from philosophical and meta-theoretical elaborations to studies documenting largely idiosyncratic happenings in a particular empirical context, which could be dismissed as anecdotal. In between, and the source for the recent revival of scholarly interest, lies the promise to explain transformation processes, multiplex governance, and varieties in wellbeing and development pathways, which are needed in a world overshadowed by crises. Have studies on agency and structure lived up to the promise? Only partly, we argue and suggest that we need to develop a common ontological commitment as well as adequate mid-range theories and methods coherent with such a commitment. We suggest critical realism as the backbone of such a common ontological commitment and discuss potential ways forward for a social science research programme with emancipatory potential, this is to say to contribute to our capabilities to make a difference in the world.
(Less)
- author
- Grillitsch, Markus LU and Sotarauta, Markku
- organization
- publishing date
- 2025
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Agency and structure, critical realism, path development, regional development, social science methodology
- in
- European Planning Studies
- volume
- 33
- issue
- 1
- pages
- 104 - 123
- publisher
- Taylor & Francis
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:85207492834
- ISSN
- 0965-4313
- DOI
- 10.1080/09654313.2024.2415125
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- abb24dfa-3ad8-4552-9a79-55a37eee5d73
- date added to LUP
- 2025-01-02 15:34:33
- date last changed
- 2025-04-04 14:04:18
@article{abb24dfa-3ad8-4552-9a79-55a37eee5d73,
abstract = {{<p>As a concept, agency stretches from philosophical and meta-theoretical elaborations to studies documenting largely idiosyncratic happenings in a particular empirical context, which could be dismissed as anecdotal. In between, and the source for the recent revival of scholarly interest, lies the promise to explain transformation processes, multiplex governance, and varieties in wellbeing and development pathways, which are needed in a world overshadowed by crises. Have studies on agency and structure lived up to the promise? Only partly, we argue and suggest that we need to develop a common ontological commitment as well as adequate mid-range theories and methods coherent with such a commitment. We suggest critical realism as the backbone of such a common ontological commitment and discuss potential ways forward for a social science research programme with emancipatory potential, this is to say to contribute to our capabilities to make a difference in the world.</p>}},
author = {{Grillitsch, Markus and Sotarauta, Markku}},
issn = {{0965-4313}},
keywords = {{Agency and structure; critical realism; path development; regional development; social science methodology}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{1}},
pages = {{104--123}},
publisher = {{Taylor & Francis}},
series = {{European Planning Studies}},
title = {{Agency and structure in regional development : in search of a social science research programme}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09654313.2024.2415125}},
doi = {{10.1080/09654313.2024.2415125}},
volume = {{33}},
year = {{2025}},
}