Globalization and socio-economic restructuring in Andalusia - Challenges and possible alternatives

After setting out a general theoretical approach to the intensification of socio-economic dynamics, the tendency towards deterritorialization, attempt s at reterritorialization, and other socio-economic restructuring brought a bout in local or regional territories by globalization, this article focuse s on how these processes are affecting Andalusia, a region in the south of Spain. The globalization of the economy of this traditionally agricultural and underdeveloped region over recent decades has gone hand in hand with a remarkable process of modernization and economic growth. In spite of this, Andalusia is still one of the socio-economic backwaters of Europe with a hi gh rate of unemployment and higher levels of poverty in all its eight provi nces than the Spanish average. Globalization exacerbated these difficulties , but it has also created new opportunities for the region which now has an autonomous government acid has acquired new powers over many areas of its socio-economic life. The article concludes by reflecting on some possible a lternatives to current Andalusian policies, and suggesting how they might r espond to the challenges of globalization in order to further Andalusia's s ocio-economic opportunities in the new global context.