Regionalism in theory and practice, or a plea for Appalachian Studies

Since the 1990s resurgence in concerns of regional identity and regionalism has occurred within the social sciences as well as in governance, planning, and politics in general. In terms of economic development, new geographical lores have been written and spoken, lores that often seem to foster narratives of multi-county cooperation and unity, as well as a shared geographical identity at the regional scale. Such lores however tend to render the role of the federal, state and local government in economic development policies and strategies invisible. In this paper the author seeks to provide a deeper understanding of the inter-connectedness of such lores and development practices in the Appalachian region. To begin, the author will provide an overview of literature pertaining to (1) regional identity, regionalism, and geographical lores and, (2) critical development discourses. Then, I apply these conceptual frameworks to data collected during a research fellowship held at the Central Appalachian Institute for Research and Development (Jan-Dec 2013) in an effort to explore the ways in which the Appalachian Regional Commission, the State of Kentucky, and regionally-based entities such as the Southeast Kentucky Chamber of Commerce perpetuate limited geographical lores in the form of development strategies which shape economic imaginings. I argue that development strategies in/for Southeastern Kentucky and Appalachia more broadly must be contextualized to be successful. It is only through an appreciation for the history of out-migration, low wages, exploitation, and lack of diversification that development strategies generating civic engagement and equal distribution to resources might be fostered