Those wishing to propose a collective volume should prepare a 500 words abstract.
The proposal must seek to address the aims and scopes of the book series.
Normally, two collective volumes are published each year, in the months of April/May and November/December.
Those wishing to propose a monographic volume should prepare a 500 words abstract and a provisional index.
Proposals must be sent to the following address:
E-mail: geographiesofanthropocene@gmail.com
Call for Book Chapters
Identity, Sustainability, and Resilience: Paradigms for Territorial Tourism Development
Edited by
Grazia Calabrò
(Department of Economics, University of Messina, Italy)
Sonia Gambino
(Department COSPECS; University of Messina, Italy)
Olimpia State
(Department of Tourism and Geography, Faculty of Business and Tourism, Bucharest University of Economic Studies, Romania)
Dear Colleagues,
We are pleased to announce that a Call for Book Chapters is now open for the volume titled “Identity, Sustainability, and Resilience: Paradigms for Territorial Tourism Development” (Language: English), which will be published as part of the Geographies of the Anthropocene book series.
The volume is edited by Grazia Calabrò (Department of Economics, University of Messina, Italy), Sonia Gambino (Department of Cognitive, Psychological, Pedagogical, and Cultural Studies – COSPECS, University of Messina, Italy), and Olimpia State (Department of Tourism and Geography, Faculty of Business and Tourism, Bucharest University of Economic Studies, Romania).
Scope:
In today’s increasingly competitive landscape, driven by globalization, socio-economic systems must develop models of development based on the valorization of territorial resources. Competitiveness now relies on a territory’s ability to act as a driver of local development by diversifying economic initiatives, leveraging local potential, and fostering synergies rather than fragmentation. This approach ensures the conservation, maintenance, and sustainable exploitation of local heritage.
The territorial context is not merely the physical setting where entrepreneurial activities take place; it is an integral part of economic activity and can contribute to its success. Territorial identity is a key element to be leveraged, forming the basis for innovative offerings and providing a competitive advantage in the market. The combination of natural, anthropological, economic, social, and cultural elements defines a tourist area, collectively forming the stage where economic activities unfold, either enhancing or degrading the territory (Salazar, 2005). In this context, people and their territory are at the heart of the system, together representing both territorial identity and a unique expression of place.
Tourism represents a significant opportunity for territorial redevelopment and greater economic and employment prospects. It has considerable potential to contribute to various aspects of sustainability. For this reason, the United Nations has declared 2027 the International Year of Sustainable and Resilient Tourism.
Social, territorial, and economic cohesion thus form the paradigm on which to organize tourism models that effectively integrate identity, sustainability, and resilience, while adapting to new market requirements. Consequently, tourism assumes a pivotal role as an instrument for territorial awareness, protection, and enhancement.
The aim of this book is to foster a reflection on the analysis of current realities and future opportunities for a more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable tourism model, through contributions from scholars across various disciplines.
Interested colleagues are invited to submit their book chapter proposals by 15 May 2025. Suggested topics include, but are not limited to:
- Tourism, territory, and sustainable development;
- Best practices in tourism;
- Assessment of socio-economic and environmental sustainability;
- Strategies and projects for tourism development;
- Sustainable tourism vs. overtourism;
- Eco-tourism and the circular economy;
- Food, agriculture, and tourism;
- SDGs and tourism;
- Tourism and local communities;
- Accessible and inclusive tourism
Keywords: Responsible tourism, sustainability, community tourism, resilience
References
Calabro, G., Vieri, S. (2014). The environmental certification of tourism: A tool to enhance the unicity of a territory. Calitatea, 15(S5), 44.
Cooke, P.; Parrilli, M.D.; Curbelo, J.L. (2012), Innovation, Global Change and Territorial Resilience; Edward Elgar Publishing: Cheltenham, UK, 2012.
Cucari, N., Wankowicz, E., & De Falco, S. E. (2019). Rural tourism and Albergo Diffuso: A case study for sustainable land-use planning. Land use policy, 82, 105-119.
De Rubertis, S. (2022). Turismo, crescita economica e sviluppo territoriale: una prospettiva geografica. Pàtron editore, Bologna.
Dell’Agnese, E. (2018). Bon voyage. Per una geografia critica del turismo , UTET università, Torino.
Gambino, S. (2022). Sulla valorizzazione turistica dei piccoli borghi: Casalvecchio Siculo e le sue opportunità. Annali del turismo, 11, 85-92.
Meini, M., Ciliberti, D. (2024). Sustainable Attractiveness in the Italian Apennines. A Review and Advancement Proposal. In INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM: New Metropolitan Perspectives (pp. 424-433). Springer Nature Switzerland, Cham.
Pollice F., Rinaldi C., (2015), “Patrimonio archeologico, comunità locali e sviluppo territoriale nel bacino del Mediterraneo”, in Cusimano G. (Ed.), “Il turismo nelle/delle destinazioni”, Patron, Bologna, 137-150.
Ritchie, B., Crouch, I., (2003), The Competitive Destination: A Sustainable Tourism Perspective, CABI Publishing Series, Wallingford, UK.
Scheyvens, R., Biddulph, R. (2018). Inclusive tourism development. Tourism Geographies, 20(4), 589-609.
State O., Bulin D. (2016) Aspects of responsible tourism–a quantitative approach. Amfiteatru Economic Journal 18, The Bucharest University of Economic Studies [Place:] Bucharest 781-797.
Important dates
May 15, 2025: Book Chapter Proposal deadline
May 31, 2025: Acceptance/Rejection Notification
July 31, 2025: Full Chapter Submission
September 30, 2025: Review notification
October 30, 2025: Final version chapter submission
December 2025: Final e-book version available
Submission Procedure:
Interested authors should submit their proposals (max 500 words) by May 15, 2025, explaining the main topic and the objectives of the chapter.
The manuscript proposals (Word or PDF) must be sent to the following address: geographiesofanthropocene@gmail.com
Acceptance/Rejection notification will be sent to the authors by May 31, 2025. After the acceptance notification, authors should submit full accepted chapters by October 30, 2025 formatting their manuscripts following the Editor’s guidelines. The manuscript word count must be between 4500 – 6000 words. This includes tables, illustrations, references, etc. All submissions will be reviewed in a double-blind manner.
Download Call for Book Chapters
Call for Book Chapters
Special Economic Zones: Challenges and Opportunities for Territorial Development
Edited by
Michele Pigliucci
(Università degli Studi di Roma “Link”)
Dear Colleagues,
We are delighted to invite submissions for book chapters in the “Geographies of the Anthropocene” series. This volume (8, n. 1, 2025), titled “Special Economic Zones: Challenges and Opportunities for Territorial Development” (Language: English), will be edited by Michele Pigliucci (Università degli Studi “Link”, Roma).
Proposal Deadline: December 15, 2024
Scope:
Special Economic Zones (SEZs) are geographically defined areas where governments establish special administrative, fiscal, or bureaucratic frameworks to facilitate industrial activity and attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). SEZs are increasingly recognized as effective tools for enhancing the attractiveness of underdeveloped regions by fostering investment and boosting employment.
One of the main advantages of SEZs is that they can improve competitiveness without significant cost to the country, addressing the challenges of regions that may lack appeal due to geographical or historical disadvantages. Today, there are thousands of SEZs worldwide, particularly in Asia, which have proven valuable in achieving regional development goals. There are various types of SEZs, differing in scope, governance models, territorial integration, and the nature of their benefits.
However, SEZs are not a guaranteed solution for regional development. Their success depends on multiple factors, including infrastructure planning, the choice and duration of incentives, and the precise identification of targeted areas. Poorly planned SEZs can potentially diminish the attractiveness of the surrounding areas and may even intensify internal disparities.
The establishment of SEZs often creates a hierarchy between “first-tier” areas, which benefit directly from SEZ incentives, and “second-tier” surrounding areas, which risk losing competitiveness. Conversely, when effectively designed and implemented, SEZs can greatly enhance regional competitiveness and serve as a rapidly growing tool for the development of lagging regions.
This volume seeks to gather theoretical and practical insights into the effectiveness of SEZs for territorial development. We invite contributions that explore empirical, theoretical, and methodological perspectives on how different SEZ structures lead to varied development outcomes. Authors are encouraged to consider case studies that identify key challenges in SEZ design and demonstrate how SEZs can create unique opportunities for growth.
The book welcomes contributions from multiple disciplines, including specific case-study analyses.
Topics of Interest
Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:
- Governance models of SEZs
- Territorial development and SEZs
- SEZ-related inter-territorial conflicts
- Territorial Impact Assessment of SEZs
- Case studies on successful and unsuccessful SEZs
- Metrics and performance indicators for SEZ effectiveness
- Environmental and social sustainability in SEZs
- Comparative analysis of SEZ types across regions and countries
- Innovation and technology transfer in SEZs
- Challenges and best practices in SEZ policy design
- Place-evidence and territorialisation of SEZ
Keywords: Special Economic Zones, economic geography, regional policy, regional development
Bibliography
Adam A. Ambroziak (2009), Krajowa pomoc regionalna w specjalnych strefach ekonomicznych w Polsce – Regional state aid in special economic zones in Poland, Warsaw, Warsaw School of Economics Press.
Adam A. Ambroziak, Cristopher A. Hartwell (2018). «The impact of investments in special economic zones on regional development: the case of Poland», Regional studies, 52 (10), pp. 1322-1331.
Aggarwal, A. (2012). Social and Economic Impact of SEZs in India. Oxford University Press.
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Arbolino, R., Lantz, T. L., & Napolitano, O. (2023). «Assessing the impact of special economic zones on regional growth through a comparison among EU countries», Regional Studies, 57(6), 1069-1083.
BEKBERGENEVA D.E., SEMENOV A.P. (2024). «Risks in the formation of special economic zones of Russia», Regional Economics: Theory and Practice, 10 (529), pp.1844-1854.
Brussevich, M. (2024). «The socioeconomic impact of special economic zones: Evidence from cambodia», The World Economy, 47(1), 362-387.
Ciżkowicz P., Ciżkowic-Pękała M., Pękała P., Rzońca A. (2015). The effects of special economic zones on employment and investment: spatial panel modelling perspective, Warsaw, Economic Institute.
Dubinina, E. (2023). «Impact of special economic zones on domestic market: evidence from Russia», Post-Communist Economies, 35(1), 82-99.
Farole T. (2011). «Special Economic Zones: What Have We Learned?», World Bank – Economic Premise, Washington, The World Bank, 2011, pp. 1-5.
Farole, T., & Akinci, G. (2011). Special Economic Zones: Progress, Emerging Challenges, and Future Directions. Washington, DC: World Bank.
Fei D. (2017). «Worlding developmentalism: China’s Economic Zones within and beyond its border», Journal of International Development, 29, 2017, pp. 825-850.
Ferrara, A. R., Nisticò, R., & Prota, F. (2022). «Zone Economiche Speciali: potenzialità e limiti dello strumento», Rivista economica del Mezzogiorno, 36(4), 875-902.
Frick, S. A., & Rodríguez-Pose, A. (2023). «What draws investment to special economic zones? Lessons from developing countries», Regional Studies, 57(11), 2136-2147.
Ge, W. (1999). Special economic zones and the economic transition in China (Vol. 5). World scientific.
Graham, S., & Marvin, S. (2002). Splintering Urbanism: Networked Infrastructures, Technological Mobilities and the Urban Condition. London: Routledge.
Heather P. Bedi, (2013). «Special Economic Zones: national land challenges, localized protest», Contemporary South Asia, 21 (1), pp. 38.51.
Jensen C. (2018). «The employment impact of Poland’s special economic zones policy», Regional studies, 52 (7), 2018, pp. 877-889.
Johansson, H., & Nilsson, L. (1997). «Export Processing Zones as Catalysts», World Development, 25(12), 2115-2128.
Liptáka F., Klasová S., Ková V. (2015). «Special Economic Zone Constitution According to Cluster Analysis», Procedia Economics and Finance, 27, pp. 186-193.
Litwack J.M., Qian Y. (1998). «Balanced or Unbalanced Development: Special Economic Zones as Catalysts for Transition», Journal of Comparative Economics, 26, 1998, pp. 117–141.
Mendoza V. O. M. (2016). «Preferential policies and income inequality: Evidence from Special Economic Zones and Open Cities in China», China Economic Review, 40, 2016, pp. 228-240.
Moberg, L. (2015). «The Political Economy of Special Economic Zones», Journal of Institutional Economics, 11(1), 167-190.
Mugano, G. (2021). «Special Economic Zones: Showcasing Success and Failures», in Special Economic Zones: Economic Development in Africa (pp. 181-204). Cham: Springer International Publishing
Nazarczuk J.M., Umiński S. (2018). «The geography of openness to foreign trade in Poland: The role of special economic zones and foreign-owned entities», Bulletin of Geography. Socio-economic Series, 39(39), 2018, pp. 97-111.
Pigliucci, M. (2019). Zone economiche speciali nel Mezzogiorno d’Italia, Nuova Cultura, Roma.
Prezioso M. (ed.) (2020). Territorial Impact Assessment of national and regional territorial cohesion in Italy. Place evidence and policy orientations towards European Green Deal, Bologna, Pàtron editore.
Rodríguez-Pose, A. (2018). «The Revenge of the Places that Don’t Matter (and What to Do about It)», Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy and Society, 11(1), 189-209.
Shankar G. (2007). «Negative Aspects of Special Economic Zones in China», Economic and Political Weekly, 42(17), 2007, pp. 1492-1494.
Sharma N.K. (2009). «Special Economic Zones: Socio-Economic Implications», Economic and Political Weekly, 44(20), 2009, pp. 18-21.
Shukurova, F. (2024). «The role of Special Economic Zones in investment attractiveness», Development and innovations in science, 3(4), 92-95.
Sinenko O., Mayburov I. (2017). «Comparative Analysis of the Effectiveness of Special Economic Zones and Their Influence on the Development of Territories», International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues, 7(1), 2017, pp. 115-122.
Sosnovskikh S, (2017). «Industrial clusters in Russia: The development of special economic zones and industrial parks», Russian Journal of Economics, 3, pp. 174–199.
Storper, M. (1997). The Regional World: Territorial Development in a Global Economy. New York: Guilford Press.
Tang, K. (2023). «The political economy of special economic zones: the cases of Ethiopia and Vietnam», Review of International Political Economy, 30(5), 1957-1983.
UNCTAD (2019). World Investment Report 2019: Special Economic Zones. United Nations.
Valiev, O. S. U., & Umrzoqov, J. B. U. (2024). «The role of Free Economic Zones (FEZs) in attracting foreign direct investment (FDI): the case of South Korea», Oriental renaissance: Innovative, educational, natural and social sciences, 4(5), 226-234.
Vats A., Declerq M., Clements S., Special Economic Zones as a tool for economic development, New York, Oliver Wyman, 2018.
Wang, J. (2013). «The Economic Impact of Special Economic Zones: Evidence from Chinese Municipalities», Journal of Development Economics, 101, 133-147.
Yeung, Y. M., Lee, J., & Kee, G. (2009). «China’s Special Economic Zones at 30», Eurasian Geography and Economics, 50(2), 222-240.
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Ziedina D., Pelse M. (2019). «Special Economic Zone as innovation booster in less developed regions», Economic Science for Rural Development Conference Proceedings, pp. 272-278.
Important dates:
December 15, 2024: Book Chapter Proposal deadline;
December 31, 2024: Acceptance/Rejection Notification;
February 15, 2025: Full Chapter Submission;
March 15, 2025: Review notification;
April 15, 2025: Final version chapter submission;
May/June 2025: Final e-book version available.
Submission Procedure:
Interested authors should submit their proposals (max 500 words) by December 15, 2024, explaining the main topic and the objectives of the chapter.
The manuscript proposals (Word or PDF) must be sent to the following address: geographiesofanthropocene@gmail.com
Acceptance/Rejection notification will be sent to the authors by December 31, 2024. After the acceptance notification, authors should submit full chapters by February 15, 2025 formatting their manuscripts following the Editor’s guidelines.
The manuscript word count must be between 4500 – 6000 words. This includes tables, illustrations, references, etc. All submissions will be reviewed in a double-blind manner.
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