Epistemic communities and regional policy coordination: the Adriatic-Ionian case[Le comunità epistemiche e il coordinamento delle politiche regionale: il caso per la regione adriatico-ionica]

Historically and geographically, the regions of the Adriatic-Ionian basin are very close to each other. However, we can observe that although they are so close, there are many differences and time has left its marks. Obviously now we have to work together to make the macro-region function as a whole, because the Adriatic and the Ionian Sea is a basin characterized by many activities: naval, transport, fishing, gas and Petroleum platforms, export-import activities, coastal and maritime tourism; All activities that can not thrive without being connected to each other, not only for their geographical proximity but also for shared values, which need to be enhanced and re-evaluated among the regions of this basin. Of course, in this area, we need to work for sustainable development, although I think it is a complex issue because it involves dealing with difficult issues: I have mentioned someone, like differences in development; But also the foresight of the future, which calls for consideration of all the dimensions of development, including all the regions which, as I shall later show, can not easily consider that they are parts of different states, and sovereignty and of state interes has to be addressed. To understand what actions need to be done, I have focused my attention on the factors that are important in shaping this kind of action and produce sustainable development. In general, the main factors that I have considered are system conditions, national interest, knowledge and information. The third dimension that leads us to the concept of academic communities and is tied to knowledge that is fundamental to sustainable development and which influences the definition of policies; I think knowledge is decisive today, as knowledge is exercised through categories, and the knowledge production systems and universities have to share this new power, and specialize in handling its different categories.