Agglomeration is in the eye of the beholder: the changing governance of polycentrism

With a focus on evolving governance configurations, this paper traces attempts at promoting polycentrism. The steers attention to the policy approaches that seek develop and promote polycentric urban region (PUR), whether economic system is actual now or something only faintly sketched out but aspired in future. Tracking shifts concerning perceived Glasgow–Edinburgh economy over period of two decades, explores why different projects, strategies initiatives have come gone. In doing this, operationalizes territory, place, scale, network (TPSN) framework, showing how polycentrism inserts through structuring principles try shape existing fields socio-spatial relations organization (notably concerns for city-regionalism). framing, agglomeration presented as malleable seductive notion helps secure views certain forms subnational development should take priority.