From enabling people to enabling institutions. a national policy suggestion for inner areas coming from an action-research experience

The paper focuses on the challenges faced by planners committed to quality of life in ‘inner areas’ (i.e. distant from major urban poles and often affected by the decline of population, public services, economic performances, and/or ecological integrity). It presents research findings developed by a long-term action-research partnership between planning researchers at the University of Catania and the ‘Simeto Valley’ community, in Sicily (Italy). These findings show that an important developmental role can be played by formalized collaborative relationships between Institutions and the active part of their constituency, but only under the condition of a clear ‘enabling’ strategy not only targeting citizens but also institutions.