Structural Typology of Regional Resilience: A Meta-Synthesis Review

The regional resilience concept has undergone fundamental changes during the last two decades due to changes and challenges stemming from various economic, environmental, and sociopolitical crises. However, the rapid proliferation of studies across diverse disciplinary perspectives has led to significant conceptual fragmentation and a lack of systematic synthesis, representing a critical research gap. This meta-study applies a systematic methodology for conducting a comprehensive review of the evolutionary trajectory of this concept to address this gap. Various research studies on regional resilience published between 2000 and 2024 were systematically analyzed, with results structured around five key aspects: conceptual dimension, theoretical framework, spatial scale, driving factors, and resulting effects. Our findings indicate that the concept has undergone significant transformation along three critical axes: a shift from linear to multidimensional frameworks, a transition from single-scale to multiscale approaches, and an evolution from generic to context-specific methodologies. These shifts have facilitated a deeper understanding of regional systems and enabled more comprehensive analyses of their dynamics. This work, while articulating complexity, provides a robust foundation upon which policymakers can develop more effective resilience strategies, while opening research horizons by highlighting existing knowledge gaps and offering methodological frameworks. In conclusion, this meta-study provides a comprehensive overview of regional resilience evolution and a typology that offers a theoretical framework essential for improved concept understanding and application in regional policymaking.