Understanding economic development as a Deleuzian ‘plateau’

Abstract

This article develops a theoretical framework for understanding the New Zealand economic development landscape from a Deleuzian poststructuralist perspective. The Deleuzian concept of the ‘plateau’ is metaphorically used to denote levels of understanding that an economic development practitioner needs to know. It also demonstrates how changing government polices and key concepts such as globalization, clusters and business incubators can be visualized through metaphors. Deleuzian terms such as territorialization, folds, smooth and striated space, and nomads have been used to describe recurring key local economic development concepts. The importance of thinking outside the square is also highlighted.