Endogenous Development in the Era of Reflexive Modernity

Reflexive Modernity is bringing myriad ‘flexible spaces’ into being in which socio-economic development can be animated and even defined. The act of territorial identity construction utilises historical and cultural resources and thus represents an emerging form of local governance. The paper examines how this focus on cultural–territorial identity feeds back to the psychological well-being of individuals, both within and without the locality. Reflexive Modernity helps us to understand the dialectical relations between Self-identity and broad social change. The geographical focus is simultaneously global and local. Against this backdrop, actors are engaging with Reflexive Modernity through various forms of strategic intervention. This paper supports calls for a change on emphasis, away from rural development and towards territories or disadvantaged social groups.