Local and regional development in the Global North and South

Local and regional development has characteristically focused upon localities and regions in the historically industrialized and urbanized countries of the Global North. Development Studies has been concerned with more recently industrializing and urbanizing nations in the Global South. Each strand has continued to have only limited interaction but such disconnection constrains explanation and policy formulation in addressing global development challenges. This article argues for stronger connection and deeper interaction concerning local and regional development between and within the Global North and South. The basis for stimulating dialogue is situated in the critique of developmentalism, defining development regionally and locally, common issues and context sensitivity and place.