In this essay we use constructs, concepts and categories from geography in order to search for elements that could help in the formation of public policies oriented for development. The reasons that lead us to attempt such an approximation are related to the contemporary geopolitical context and the simplification in the use of the concept of territory, for example, as a simple indicator of a space, over which one can apply methodologies, much of the time inspired by exogenous models of public policy. We conclude that the approximation to the concept of territory implies taking for granted the relational character of the articulations that occur in socio-political spaces built by social and governmental actors. Such a need becomes more relevant as one can observe the governmental initiatives that have been implemented at the federal level, which attempt to recuperate the ability to plan and promote development from the formation and articulation of national, regional and local public policies.
social networks; organizational networks; territory; public policies; development