Abstract
This article explores the interplay between regional identity and economic development in Wallonia. Relying on a critical reading of economic policy texts and political discourse relating to both the domestic and foreign policy spheres, the study examines the manner in which Walloon political actors discursively construct the relation between economic development and regional identity. The findings point to a perceived mutually reinforcing role between economic development and identity, offering a more nuanced approach to current studies exploring this relationship. Facilitated by the analytical division between domestic and foreign policy spheres, the study also highlights an important link between two facets of ‘regional identity’: the regional consciousness of inhabitants and the image of the region itself.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 597-624 |
| Number of pages | 28 |
| Journal | Regional and Federal Studies |
| Volume | 31 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 1 Jan 2021 |
Keywords
- Regional identity/image
- Wallonia
- paradiplomacy
- region branding
- regional economic development
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Geography, Planning and Development
- Political Science and International Relations
