In this article, Soja covers the research fields of regional and urban studies, which increasingly tend to blend together. He makes a case for an approach consisting in considering these two research fields together, as empirical research also increasingly allows for the simultaneous observation of these categories which used to be considered separately. Soja highlights gaps and needs with regard to research; he reports eight important thematic fields for critical and comparative regional research: 1) new regionalism, 2) the regenerating power of towns and regions, 3) regional urbanisation, 4) the end of the metropolis, 5) broadened regional urbanisation, 6) multi-scalar regionalisation, 7) regional governance and planning and 8) regional democracy.
Development of the cross-border cooperation presented in the regional scheme of economic development of innovation and internationalisation (SRDEII) of the Grand Est region pursues ambitious goals that strengthen the specific geographic location of this region.
Even though the cross-border development seems to have been achieved, the goals pursued for economic development in the Grand Est region are facing great challenges: Stronger transparency of the programmes of cooperation, better mediation of local competences, reduction of the language barrier between the residents, etc.
