Territorial governance: from the theoretical debate to evaluation of their practice

Abstract

Territorial governance usually exists in contexts of social complexity and multi-scalar relations deriving from challenges facing the practical applications of planning and management processes. Following a theoretical framework review, we highlight those that may be considered foundational principles of territorial governance practices, and incorporate them in a proposal for a methodology based on the knowledge and perception of the actors involved to evaluate Brazilian and Portuguese experiences. Results suggest enquiring into the theoretical scope: is the territorial governance a reality? We conclude with suggestions for future avenues of research that seek to elucidate this question based on a wider spectrum of organizations and territorial contexts.