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This article describes the emergence and evolution of the concept of territorial development. It stresses the several ways of defining this term currently, depending on the socioeconomic conditions of the country being investigated. Besides, the authors point out that research about this subject has been conducted mainly in the rich countries. The reality of poverty and social exclusion observed in the Southern Hemisphere should be assumed as a priority in the research agenda of the coming years. In this context, the issues related to collective action and the emergence of polycentric systems around middle sized cities are presented as new avenues for interdisciplinary research.