Island's development, Cooperation networks, European Union, Spatial development
Abstract
The fact that the islands' specific characteristics (small size, periphericity and isolation, specific cultural values and experience identity) are in opposition to some of the most important principles of the dominating development model (external economies, economies of scale, economic efficiency) resulted in the marginalisation, the dependence and the underdevelopment of areas that in the former times have long periods of prosperity. The policies that have been applied after the second world war, in spite of some positive results didn't succeed in changing this situation by creating the conditions for a stable and autonomous development process as they were based in the same principles. The development of networks of cooperation allows, in parallel with the exploitation of new technologies, the creation of the appropriate conditions for mapping out a development march for the islands, based on the principles of spatial development.
