What future for SHD at the local level?
As much of the discussion developed in this book is in terms of theory and conceptualizations, we are aware of the limits of our achievements and of the scope for further refinements and empirical inquiry.
For instance, among the issues raised by a place-based perspective of SHD is the need to devote attention to the question of the most appropriate scale of a territory as a unit of analysis and for policy. Several variables affect this choice, from the specific case study and the topic of inquiry (e.g. economic animation, provision of BSS, knowledge creation and diffusion), to the availability of data and resources to collect information on complex development processes and policy questions. Nonetheless, it should always be remembered that, whatever the unit of analysis, insights are to be derived regarding each level of governance and relation, assessing the alignment of visions, functions and capacities towards SHD.
More generally, further contributions of different approaches, disciplines, methodologies and applications could also contribute to the perspective and shift the policy design advanced here, integrating economic, social, cultural and environmental dimensions within socio-institutional settings and areas of collective action which shape individual and collective well-being. Indeed, the strengthening of the foundations of our STEHD framework, the consolidation of the core conceptualizations of the perspective of SHD at the local level, the refinement of the framework, as well as its operationalization, and the definition of the areas of conflict with other contrasting perspectives are all challenging areas. In this regard, future research can add value if consistent and complementary to the core features of a people-centred and place-based perspective of SHD.
Further theoretical work is mostly required to push forward and consolidate integration between the two foundational approaches (CA and local development), requiring contributions from scholars and practitioners in these fields, as well as from other disciplines (e.g.
sociology, philosophy) and perspectives (e.g. conflict transformation, eco-system approach). In addition, contributions from future research are required to provide the perspective with research methods and tools of analysis, and assessment and measurement (see also Appendices 1, 2, 4 and 6) are able to provide answer to the main questions composing the potential procedural application of the STEHD framework outlined in Table 2.1. Indeed, only a stronger combination of our conceptual framework with innovative methodologies forFuture Perspectives for SHD at the Local Level 155 empirical accounts of complex territorial processes allows the perspective of SHD at the local level develop more fully.
The hope is that a consolidation of local, national and global dialogue between scholars and practitioners around this perspective will contribute to ground new development initiatives on the most recent evolutions and insights of scientific research. Indeed, analysing, monitoring and evaluating the experience of the most advanced frontier of development practices will inspire new approaches and innovative scientific thinking on SHD processes and its territorial evolutionary dynamics.