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‘Slowing down’ in small and medium-sized towns: Cittaslow in Germany and Italy from a social innovation perspective

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  • Sept, Ariane

Abstract

Smaller towns in rural regions are important anchors for regional development, but they are not usually considered particularly innovative and open to new ideas. This paper asks how the network of small and medium-sized towns, Cittaslow, could establish slowing down as something new in local development. Against the theoretical background of sociological innovation research, an analytical framework of social innovation is elaborated to analyse Cittaslow using four case studies: two German and two Italian towns. Based on fieldwork in the four towns, this paper shows that discourse and communication on slowing down, local projects labelled as slow and new cooperation structures go hand in hand. This leads to the conclusion that new ways of local development need a communicative umbrella under which projects and stakeholders come together. The paper furthermore demonstrates that the analytical framework, with its triad of semantics, pragmatics and grammar, is extremely helpful for analysing spatial development and has the potential to be adapted as a tool for policy strategies.

Suggested Citation

  • Sept, Ariane, 2021. "‘Slowing down’ in small and medium-sized towns: Cittaslow in Germany and Italy from a social innovation perspective," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 8(1), pages 259-268.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:espost:251850
    DOI: 10.1080/21681376.2021.1919190
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Gabriela B. Christmann, 2020. "Introduction: struggling with innovations. Social innovations and conflicts in urban development and planning," European Planning Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 28(3), pages 423-433, March.
    2. Gillwald, Katrin, 2000. "Konzepte sozialer Innovation," Papers, Research Network Project "Work and Ecology" P 00-519, WZB Berlin Social Science Center.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    slowing down; social innovation; small towns; communication; local development;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O35 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Social Innovation
    • R58 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Regional Government Analysis - - - Regional Development Planning and Policy
    • O21 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Development Planning and Policy - - - Planning Models; Planning Policy

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