The IGU currently has 34 commissions. Of these, CO.27 - Marginalization, Globalization, and Regional and Local Responses has, at various levels, geographers from the University of Coimbra. The organization of this publication is the outcome of the involvement of members of the Centro de Estudos de Geografia e Ordenamento do Território (CEGOT) in meetings of the International Geographical Union Marginalization, Globalization, and Regional and Local Responses commission. A series of works that analyse various socio-economic, demographic and physical realities in mainland Portugal are presented. Focusing particularly on territories in Central Portugal these works do, in fact, clarify the diversity of the importance of Coimbra's School of Geography in Portuguese geographical research. This work therefore contemplates a spread of research issues that cover the potential and problems of society and the environment in Portugal, and it is certainly helpful to understanding Portugueses society in the early 21st century.