TERRITORIAL APPROACH OF DEVELOPMENT: CONCEPTUAL CATEGORIES AND METHODOLOGICAL ASSUMPTIONS

Abstract

This text, in the form of a theoretical essay, summarizes the main epistemic- theoretical-methodological conceptions that converge with the territorial approach of development, using publications dealing with territorial studies to refer to the approach and procedural methods. The indications contained in the consulted literature that was based, in particular, in four epistemic fields, were highlighted, namely: the new systems theory, the theory of complexity, the historical- dialectical materialism, and the perspective of decoloniality and decentralization. As a result, from the epistemic-theoretical-methodological concepts contained in the publications, it could be concluded that: (i) the indication that the territorial approach is sustained in the conceptual category territory, following the meaning proclaimed by several authors, such as, Raffestin, Brunet, Ferras and Théry, Saquet and Pecqueur; (ii) the territorial approach needs to assume the conceptual category of territorial development, as a new multidisciplinary scientific paradigm that would allow encompassing the plurality of prospection interests present in the territory, fully understanding its multiple dimensions; (iii) that, as a result, there is an urgent need to advance in the adoption of methodological approaches and procedures that necessarily converge with the territorial approach of development. It is understood that the text brings some important contributions, however, not exhausting the theme, leaving room for new interpretations.