Conceptualizing international cluster

Abstract

At the turn of the twenty-first century, scholars around the globe have breathed new life into the concept of clusters – industrial, regional, geographic, Marshallian, innovative, etc. Along with the revival of the theoretical fundamentals, researchers are prone to expand the properties and qualities of a cluster, while placing accent on various contemporary issues. The present paper suggests that the cluster concept has originated not so much as a spatial phenomenon of industrial conglomeration, but rather as a territorial (i.e. geographical) pattern of industrial networking. Thus, localization of industries and its spatial density does not represent nor explain the phenomenon of clusters per ser. Author defines clusters as networks of individual aspirations being driven by a common vision, and shaped via commonalities expressed in shared knowledge, ideology, and regional identity. Drawing on extensive literature review, the study provides a conceptual framework to a type of cluster that transcends national borders – an international cluster.