Trapped Between Concentration and Cohesion? Overcoming the Dichotomous Nature of Strategic Spatial Development within the Baltic Sea Region

Rapid economic growth in the BSR has been followed by increasing internal regional polarisation. Due to the small size and marginal position of many BSR countries, consistent policies aiming at creation of agglomeration effects are on a normative basis more than justifiable. This need for concentrational efforts should be weighted against the trade-off on escalating territorial polarisation, especially between metropolitan or other urban areas on the one hand, and rural or peripheral areas on the other. The concept of territorial specifities provides possibilities for a common BSR arena for developing shared policies that could navigate between the demands of the dichotomous development processes of the region. Particularly strategies aiming at larger secondary cities with their extended hinterlands appear viable and may provide one first step on this path.