本研究嘗試在地理學「地方與區域研究」的脈絡之內，整合地方及認同兩大議題，並探究兩者之間的關連。以宜蘭地區作為經驗研究的場域，企圖描繪出宜蘭地區的地方特質，再藉由認同政治發展的分析，來探究宜蘭地區地方特質與認同政治間的關連。
研究結果顯示，宜蘭地區在地形、氣候和水文等自然環境要素上的特殊狀況，深切地影響其整體空間形構的過程，並構成地方特質的一部份，進而影響到認同的建構。宜蘭地區高度的地方認同現象，則和地方政府所主導之以地方為基礎(place-based)的認同政治發展有著密切的關係。在宜蘭地區可觀察到許多因全球化而來的文化混合現象，宜蘭地區地方的塑造其實兼具了傳統與現代、內部與外部、保存與創造的特質。
自我與地方具有相互組成的關係。在面對全球化趨勢下的認同危機時，為避免反動的認同產生，個人與地方都必須同時強調其「獨一」與「特定」的兩種特性，才能在封閉與開放間取得一個適當的位置。
This research tries to integrate the two issues. of ”place” and ”identity” and probe the correlation between the two subjects. I-Lan is the selected domain for empirical research. The author tries to explore the correlation between local characters and identity politics of I-Lan by means of describing the local characters of I-Lan and analyzing the development of identity politics.
The research result showed that the special conditions of the I-Lan natural environment including landform, climate and hydrology has great influence on the process of overall space formation and form parts of the local characters. Further, the special conditions also influence the identity construction. The obvious phenomenon of I-Lan place identity is closely related to the government's leading policy. There are many culture mixing phenomenon resulted by globalization exit in I-Lan. The creation of I-Lan's local characters is provided with traditional & modern, inner & external and conservative & creative characters.
Self and place are constituted mutually. In the face of identity crisis under globalization trend, in order to avoid the occurrence of reactive identity, either individuals or place must stress the ”uniqueness” and ”specificity” at the same time for getting an adequate position between the closure and the openness.
