The rise, fall and resurrection of soft spaces? The regional governance of transport policy in Wales

This paper is focused on the emergence of new institutional structures and geographies within the context of complex processes of state rescaling characterized by 'hollowing out' and 'filling in'. It explores the regionalization of transport policy within Wales post-devolution and examines the potential of Haughton et al.'s concepts of 'soft' and 'hard' spaces as useful tools in furthering our understanding of state rescaling. The paper suggests that the case of transport policy in Wales post-devolution provides a useful example of the evolution of 'soft spaces' through processes of hardening and softening, and that 'stickiness' of regional spatial imaginaries.

Automated summary

This paper focuses on the emergence of new institutional structures and geographies in the context of complex state rescaling processes characterized by 'hollowing out' and 'filling in'. It explores the regionalization of transport policy in Wales post-devolution and examines the potential of Haughton et al.'s concepts of 'soft' and 'hard' spaces in understanding state rescaling. The paper suggests that the case of transport policy in Wales post-devolution is a useful example of the evolution of 'soft spaces' through processes of hardening and softening, and the 'stickiness' of regional spatial imaginaries.