Regions are a key spatial scale for examining the nature and impacts of
political, economic, social and environmental change and innovation.
The Regional Studies Association works with its international membership to
facilitate the highest standards of theoretical development, empirical
analysis and policy debate of issues at this sub-national scale,
incorporating both the urban and rural and different conceptions of space
such as city-regions and interstitial spaces. We are, for example, interested
in issues of economic development and growth, conceptions of territory and
its governance and in thorny problems of equity and injustice.
The Association’s journals, magazines and books, along with our
global-to-local series of conferences and events position us as a key forum
in shaping and disseminating advances in regional studies and science.
Members come from economics, geography, political science, planning and
sociology backgrounds. Most work in academia but many are working in policy
and practice, and membership is truly global.
Our great strengths include our embrace of multiple methodologies from
quantitative to qualitative, the use of thoughtful comparative research, and
boundary spanning between academia and policy and practice.
These—and our vibrant mix of members, including active participation from
student members and early career researchers—help us to create a dynamic
and pro-active environment in which to challenge existing thinking and push
the boundaries of knowledge and practice.
