Abstract

This paper studies how different kinds of regional identities (cultural, strategic and functional) are intertwined in supranational planning processes. By using Cascadia in North America and Barents in Europe as examples, it is shown that although the significance of identity is relatively unclear, territory–network interplay contributes to the idea of (bounded) regions and regional identities. Issues related to territorial symmetry and inclusion/exclusion indicate that while territory has its allure, identity can also emerge within softer, fuzzy spaces with several simultaneous demarcations. Although strategic and functional identities are emphasized in contemporary (soft) planning, elements of cultural identity can be observed, too.