Regional resilience in the theoretical and empirical perspectives: the case of the Industrial Pole of Cubatão, São Paulo

Abstract

The debate on regional development has recently expanded from an increasingly comprehensive view on the resilience regarding regions, in response to a very diverse matrix of external shocks, including financial crises, dangerous climate changes, terrorist movements and extreme environmental disasters. The notion of location resilience emerges as a specific ability of localities in reacting, responding and dealing with changes and uncertainties facing adversity, as natural disasters or artificial ones. In Brazil, an emblematic case of regional resilience can be identified in the region of the Industrial Pole of Cubatão, SP where it is analyzing how a region which has been called the "Valley of Death" (1980), managed to reverse an imminent situation of losing its industrialization through joint efforts. The critical framework of environmental degradation has been reversed and it is close to normality. This study aims to present the main theoretical approaches of regional resilience and verify their applicability in the case of the Industrial area of Cubatão. It is structured in three sections, first we present the main theoretical approaches on regional resilience and respective analysis models; in the sequence, it will be performed a narrative of the Industrial Pole of Cubatão, under the Evolutionary Economics perspective and analysis of the Plan of Action for Environmental Recovery (1983-2008). The resultant achievement indicators and territorial competences adopted indicating the adaptability stage of the region in the long term. The final considerations highlight the efforts that are being promoted in an attempt of solving issues that still exist in the region and suggestions for future studies.