The role of space in the socioeconomic development process is a complex area of study. Theorists of the French School of Urban Sociology developed a number of studies in this area in order to clarify the interactions between the spatial forms and the social processes. The aim of this paper is to highlight the main arguments of these theories, the importance of cities in this process, and recommend development policies which arise thereafter. The analysis suggests that territorial scales become central to the dynamics of national economies. Because of this, they are important as policy objects: interventionist measures should be combined in different territorial scales. This will contribute to an integrated socioeconomic process.
Space; Cities; Territorial scales; Regional development; Urban sociology