Les territoires périphériques et ultrapériphériques se caractérisent par un éloignement certain des espaces métropolitains et des grands centres de commandement. Cela se traduit par des formes d’isolement, de marginalisation, et par une plus faible intégration à l’économie globale. La proximité n’est alors ni simple à définir, ni une protection contre les inégalités et les injustices spatiales. Elle reste un enjeu contemporain et futur. Dans cette perspective, sont attendues des propositions mettant en valeur ces fragmentations sur un de ces espaces périphériques ou ultrapériphériques. La proposition peut être faite à l’échelle de l’espace ou à une échelle plus fine, mais toujours interactive. D’autres propositions peuvent s’intéresser aux politiques mises en œuvre, avec les effets espérés. 

Argument

Peripheral and ultraperipheral territories are characterised by a certain distance from metropolitan areas and major command centres. This results in forms of isolation, marginalisation and less integration into the global economy.

Beyond the technological and technical developments that have given the impression of a shrinking world, or, conversely, recently, of a return to the question of distance with the latest contemporary crises, the spaces in a situation of peripherality are not homogeneous. Their plurality is not only external, between territories; it is also internal. In fact, heterogeneity within a territory is marked, even on a fine scale.

However, the configuration of each area is specific. When the area is small (a small island for example), the small distance between spaces does not prevent social distance between neighbourhoods or villages. In other cases, the peripheral territory is more complex, because it is an archipelago (with one or more centralities), because a relief isolates more, because a coast is more appreciated... In fact, geographical proximity (and distance) is relative, and the fragmentation of space a classic. Discontinuities result in hierarchies, dominations, exclusions and marginalizations. On the other hand, they highlight the logic of inter-society, the valorisation of places, and territorialized social signs. In this geography that draws and redraws spaces, these logics coexist with other tendencies, qualified as self-exclusion (immobilism, localism...) which, in their turn, participate in reinforcing the processes of internal peripherisation.

These phenomena are often long-standing and maintained. They may be the result of the colonisation and coastalisation of economic and political activity and power. Cities in a position of primacy (Noumea, Fort-de-France for example) concentrate, today more than in the past, people and powers, and polarise ever larger areas. Their internal geography nevertheless shows a very clear fragmentation. Moreover, the extension of these agglomerations, through suburbs and urban peripheries, also combines distances, proximities and discontinuity, in a search for "entre-soi", distancing from the other, and undergone or desired proximities. Social and political space is being recomposed.

These phenomena are also combated by public policies, with varying degrees of success. The origin of these policies sometimes responds to concerns about management or development planning. Requests for rebalancing also come from neighbourhoods, municipalities and, more broadly, from areas wishing to (re)develop. These demands are made by leaders, associations or politicians, by residents or by groups. When success results in a real rebalancing, it is not an end in itself. The new centre, the new pole or district, in turn creates new spatial and social fragmentations.

Proximity is therefore neither simple to define, nor a protection against inequalities and spatial injustices. It remains a contemporary and future issue. In this perspective, proposals are expected that highlight these fragmentations in one of these peripheral or ultraperipheral spaces. The proposal can be made at the scale of the space or at a finer scale, but always interactive. Other proposals may focus on the policies implemented, with the expected effects. Finally, proposals can be directed towards past policies for rebalancing or combating these fragmentations. Time can offer a step back and allow us to observe social, spatial and political recompositions.