Towards fluid territories in European spatial development: regional development zones in Finland

In this paper territoriality is studied in the context of contemporary spatial development theories and practices in the European Union (EU). Primarily, territoriality is examined as a strategy for governing spatial development, and the focus is on the relationships between different modes of territoriality and governing. Territoriality is conceptualized bounded, networked, and fluid territory, and this is indicated in practice with examples of regional development zones (RDZs) in Finland. Potentially, RDZs could be tools to link the current territorial concepts of EU spatial development and poststructuralist spatial planning theories into practices for governing spatial development. Fluid territories—characterized by flexible boundaries, policy integration, and ‘governance of governance’—emerge in spatial development theories and strategies. However, it is challenging to find proper tools for implementing them in practice. A broader consideration of agency, participation, and bottom-up development are crucial for fluid territory and its governing.