Logiques de territorialité et de régionalisation en Europe de l'Ouest

In pursuit of a twofold, empirical and theoretical, objective, a panorama of regional phenomena in western Europe is presented that distinguishes four patterns in administering territories. A region's political capacity cannot be reduced to institutional resources; it fits into the larger history of relations between center and periphery. Following a critical review of the major studies in English and French on regional phenomena in Europe, three theoretical approaches are presented: the ethno-territorial constructivist current of thought, neoregionalism and multi-level governance. Light is shed on the advantages and limits of each.