Socio-Territorial Inequalities and Integrated Programming: 20 Years of Cohesion Policy in Basilicata

The paper reconstructs the processes of integrated territorial programming within the broader framework of European Structural Funds programming, focusing on the case study of Basilicata within the context of Southern Italy. The paper aims to analyze the implementation of Regional Operational Programs (ROPs) over the twenty-year period between 2000 and 2020 and the transformations in local development policies through the analysis of integrated territorial programming as a tool for implementing the operational programs analyzed. The research employed a multimethod approach. First, a desk analysis was conducted to reconstruct the European, Italian and regional regulatory framework of cohesion policy and integrated territorial programming in Basilicata. Subsequently, a critical analysis of ROPs and territorial programmes was carried out through semi-structured interviews with local stakeholders. The analysis shows that the quality of local administrative structures and political leadership plays a crucial role in the implementation processes of European fund programming and territorial interventions in Basilicata. This region stands out among the others Southern regions, especially in comparison to Calabria, in terms of efficiency in expenditure and institutional performance. Additionally, the research highlights that national strategies supporting local development play a crucial role in territorial programming of local development.