Territorial Analysis as a Foundation for Local Public Policy

Abstract

Understanding a territory before intervening in it is not a methodological luxury: it is the difference between a relevant public policy and one that reproduces the same old mistakes. This article examines territorial characterization as a multidimensional diagnostic process and its role in the design and implementation of local public policies. Drawing on a systematic review of academic and specialized technical sources, it analyzes the conceptual foundations of territorial development and local governance, the main components and methodologies of characterization processes, and the mechanisms through which the information generated can guide evidence-based interventions. The findings indicate that rigorous territorial characterization strengthens public decision-making by linking empirical diagnoses with participatory processes, narrowing the structural gap between central planning and local realities.