Promises and Problems in the Governance of Mediterranean Agro-Pastoral Systems: The Case Study of Alta Murgia

Governance, as a wider concept that includes not only government actors but also private sector and civil society, came into use in the 1980s. This paper discusses some major definitions of governance in order to delineate its main indicators. These indicators are then used to discuss premises and problems in the governance of rural areas with special reference to Alta Murgia, in central Apulia. The paper shows that the governance of rural areas holds both promises and problems.