Territorial cohesion in insular contexts: assessing external attractiveness and internal strength of major Mediterranean islands

In recent years, the concept of cohesion goes beyond the economic and social concern, focusing also on alleviating territorial imbalances and rendering sectorial policies of countries belonging to the European Union (EU) coherent and unified. Territorial imbalances are particularly evident in island regions which, constrained by their geographical position, are confronted with greater difficulties, compared to mainland ones. This work explores the potential for territorial cohesion derived from the study of both an internal state indicator (Iis), highlighting inner inadequacies of an island; and an attractiveness indicator (IA), illuminating its external linkages and interactions. Interpretation of these two indicators demonstrates how the internal state of an island forms the ground for implementing integration and cohesion policies that are capable of alleviating territorial cohesion imbalances not only within EU countries but, above all, within other islands’ realities. Both indicators are integrated into an index (composite indicator) of territorial cohesion (ITC), experimented in major Mediterranean islands. An analytical approach is proposed in this respect, stressing the originality and value of this research for strengthening territorial cohesion among island regions through the improvement of their internal state as well as the attractiveness these can develop towards the external world.