Cultural Routes: New Chances of Political Representation for Fragile Rural Areas

Cultural paths, in their tumultuous and recent development, represent a positive sign for the well-being of marginal rural areas and society as a whole. They possess structural elements that make them catalysts for sustainable development and providers of meaning starting from the common goods 'territory'. While their cultural and economic significance is undeniable, their political significance remains relatively unknown. Research on three cases, two Italian and one European, has shown that the meso-corporatist model, characterised by agreements made at the level of individual area or economic sectors, provides valuable insights. In these cases, a core organization (carrier network), originating from the Third-sector, coordinates and promotes these paths. While this does not hold monopoly on representing tour operators or small villages, it serves as an authoritative voice in marginal rural contexts, where public administrations willingly enter into a strict contractual regime with it. The virtuous exchange involves the public’s payment of the signage and maintenance of the path, while private and non-profit sectors are responsible for the animation of small commercial and cultural activities.