Persistent peripheralization. How adverse conditions affect the scope of policies for regional development in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany

Unfavorable economic conditions, demographic decline and institutional constraints all make it difficult for peripheralized regions to implement policies conducive to regional development. This article uses the example of the East German region of Saxony-Anhalt to analyze the ways in which these negative contextual conditions affect the negotiation of ideas in policy design and their implementation by operational stakeholders. Based on expert interviews in the context of current skilled labor recruitment, the study shows that adverse contextual conditions limit the perceived ability of operational stakeholders to act, thus limiting the intended scope of activities. As a result, stakeholders risk further peripheralization for the region. This article contributes to the debate on uneven development by emphasizing the role of individual stakeholders within institutions and the interplay between historical, spatial, and institutional factors in shaping policies.