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Revitalizing peripheries: How digitalization will be reshaping the logic of Japan’s regional revitalization

Reina, Lorenzo (2026) COSM40 20261
Centre for East and South-East Asian Studies, Lund University
Abstract
This thesis examines the relation between digitalization, in the form of smart cities, and the core-periphery logic, trying to understand how digitalization has affected the narration that shapes regional inequalities, smart city governance and the future of regional development. Through an analytical narrative approach, this research examines policy documents, alongside the case studies of Aizuwakamatsu and Sapporo, to underline the shift in the perception of regional inequalities, the change in the organization of smart city governance and the transformation of the narrative of regional revitalization under digitalization. The results of this research demonstrate a reframing of regional inequalities as issues of digital capacity,... (More)
This thesis examines the relation between digitalization, in the form of smart cities, and the core-periphery logic, trying to understand how digitalization has affected the narration that shapes regional inequalities, smart city governance and the future of regional development. Through an analytical narrative approach, this research examines policy documents, alongside the case studies of Aizuwakamatsu and Sapporo, to underline the shift in the perception of regional inequalities, the change in the organization of smart city governance and the transformation of the narrative of regional revitalization under digitalization. The results of this research demonstrate a reframing of regional inequalities as issues of digital capacity, reimagining the peripheral areas of Japan as sites of experimentation to find digital solutions to the structural issues of Japan. Moreover, it highlights a shift in governance towards public-private partnerships that supports the digital experimentation, but also the local revitalization. This work contributes to the debates on digital governance and regional development by showing how digitalization policies are able to reshape not only policy tools, but also how regional inequalities are framed and the role of the state as the coordinator of the policies. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Reina, Lorenzo
supervisor
organization
course
COSM40 20261
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
regional inequality, digitalization, smart city, regional development, public- private partnerships, digital governance
language
English
id
9243462
date added to LUP
2026-06-24 11:22:58
date last changed
2026-06-24 11:22:58
@misc{9243462,
  abstract     = {{This thesis examines the relation between digitalization, in the form of smart cities, and the core-periphery logic, trying to understand how digitalization has affected the narration that shapes regional inequalities, smart city governance and the future of regional development. Through an analytical narrative approach, this research examines policy documents, alongside the case studies of Aizuwakamatsu and Sapporo, to underline the shift in the perception of regional inequalities, the change in the organization of smart city governance and the transformation of the narrative of regional revitalization under digitalization. The results of this research demonstrate a reframing of regional inequalities as issues of digital capacity, reimagining the peripheral areas of Japan as sites of experimentation to find digital solutions to the structural issues of Japan. Moreover, it highlights a shift in governance towards public-private partnerships that supports the digital experimentation, but also the local revitalization. This work contributes to the debates on digital governance and regional development by showing how digitalization policies are able to reshape not only policy tools, but also how regional inequalities are framed and the role of the state as the coordinator of the policies.}},
  author       = {{Reina, Lorenzo}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Revitalizing peripheries: How digitalization will be reshaping the logic of Japan’s regional revitalization}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}