Beyond path dependence: a methodological review for studying regional futures

Regional development faces mounting challenges, including persistent inequalities, climate change and social fragmentation, that render regional futures increasingly complex and contested. Traditional approaches grounded in path dependence and structural analysis often overlook the role of imagination, agency and contested visions in shaping future trajectories, leaving a critical gap: the absence of forward-looking, inclusive and methodologically diverse tools to study and influence regional futures. This article presents a comparative review of eight methodological approaches that together constitute a pluralistic toolbox for studying regional futures. We organise these methods into three clusters evaluating each by purpose, techniques, data requirements and user suitability. Drawing on recent literature and empirical cases, we show how their integration reveals power dynamics, fosters agency and supports ethical, inclusive futures. We conclude with a call for critical reflexivity regarding the politics of knowledge production.