Neoliberalism, individualism and prospects for regional renewal

Earlier versions of regional policy have acknowledged a structural basis to spatial social inequality but more recent manifestations have implicitly denied a structural element. This is occurring amid rhetoric and action aimed at facilitating individual response to regional decline. Neoliberal individualism has been applied to regional issues, thereby translating structural problems into issues for which there only appear to be individualistic solutions. However, neoliberalism also relies on collective action to organise response to economic and environmental change. This inconsistency suggests very uncertain prospects for regional renewal. We trace the history of the individualisation of policy before examining the forces making for that uncertainty.