Multi-local residents as active regional development agents

Abstract

Multi-locality strengthens the development of many rural areas. The aim of the study was to increase understanding of multi-local residents’ roles that actively support regional development as well as the structural factors enabling it. I applied ideal type analysis through the following steps: 1) Formulation of literature-based ideal types of regional development agents, 2) identifying multi-local regional development agency types from interview data and, 3) analysing the dimensions of multi-local regional development agency by comparing the groups of types created in steps 1 and 2. I identified multi-local entrepreneur and vocation-conscious citizen activist as agency types that should be taken more into account in the debates of regional development. The analysis showed that the relationship with the place and the local community are the key enablers for multi-local development agency. Examining the agency using ideal type analysis opens a detailed perspective on social relationships and practises in the contexts of regional development and multi-locality.