Elgar Studies in Planning Theory, Policy and Practice – serie

Offering a novel and interdisciplinary approach, this thought-provoking book critically analyses the notions of fragility and antifragility and addresses their connections and applications in planning theory, urban studies and architecture. It goes beyond the risk and resilience paradigm and proposes methodological and pragmatic strategies to cope with severe forms of uncertainty and socio-spatial inequalities.Showcasing expert contributions from leading scholars, this book illustrates how a specific research focus on fragility and antifragility may elucidate some key value-based facets of contemporary cities and regions in order to foster sustainability, innovation and justice. Chapters examine the theoretical and political dimensions of fragility and antifragility, exploring how these two opposing concepts can reimagine traditional rationality in public action and potentially reframe the methods used by architects, urban planners, and policy makers. Exploring conceptual, methodological and case-based aspects, this incisive book will be of great interest to academics and students within the fields of urban studies, cities and urban geography, architecture, social sciences, philosophy, technology and innovation studies. Its presentation of original accounts of antifragile plans, policies and projects will further benefit policy makers practising within these areas.

This insightful book examines property rights as complex institutional rule-systems that enable cooperation and shape the governance of resources such as land, water, and housing. It challenges the conventional private–public binary by highlighting the prevalence of hybrid private–common property rights in contemporary governance.Aleksandar D. Slaev and Sina Shahab offer practical insights for improving resource management by recognising the institutional complexity of property rights and encouraging innovation in their design. They propose a threefold classification of entitlements, i.e., rights to use, rights to manage, and responsibilities for provision and maintenance, and develop a multi-layered framework for analysing how property rights operate and evolve across institutional levels. Bridging theory and practice with a focus on sustainability, the book demonstrates how property rights shape the governance of both natural and built environments.A Theory of Complex Property Rights is an essential resource for scholars and students in planning and urban studies, environmental policy and sustainability, human geography, and institutional economics, as well as for practitioners and specialists engaged in resource governance.

This book focuses on the urban and regional planning systems in Europe under conditions of economic crisis and austerity. Spatial Planning as Institutional Design examines the structure and legislation of these systems throughout the twentieth century as well as the decade before the 2008 economic and fiscal crisis and the years of recovery following it.Louis C. Wassenhoven provides critical analysis of spatial planning systems within Europe and reviews the theories of these institutions and their design. Using his personal experience as a member of a law-making committee in Greece, Wassenhoven illustrates the idea that spatial planning is an important component of a modern democratic state. Defining legal frameworks as an act of institutional design, the book further explores insightful findings through extensive country studies and the lessons to be learnt in the future.This engaging read is of particular significance to scholars of spatial planning, social science and planning law. Researchers and policy makers interested in territorial development and land use will also find the analysis informative.

This pioneering book investigates the complex nature of urban systems, exploring how uncertainty plays a crucial role in understanding cities. Daniele Chiffi and Stefano Moroni develop a relational theory to examine cities as dynamic networks of interaction between people and objects, rather than as fixed structures.Chiffi and Moroni analyse how uncertainty affects urban planning, infrastructure and technological advancement, challenging conventional paradigms by demonstrating how uncertainty can spark innovation. They further assess how public authorities make decisions in complicated urban contexts, focusing on areas such as land use and building transformations. The book proposes a novel framework for understanding technological innovations in the city, emphasising that progress is not solely driven by economic factors, but also by societal preferences and underlying uncertainties.Providing fresh insights into the epistemology of urban systems, this book is an inspiring read for students and scholars of urban planning, urban geography and cities more broadly. It is also a useful resource for policymakers and practitioners in planning, as well as academics interested in the philosophy of urban studies.

In the context of post-pandemic recovery and the urgent need for more resilient cities and regions to combat climate change, there has never been a more important time for spatial planning. This comprehensive account of the current state and trajectories of spatial planning in 32 European countries offers a systematic comparison of its characteristics, position in government and implementation. There is an emphasis on the role of spatial planning in coordinating the spatial impacts of sectoral policies.Chapters by experts in the field explain how governments are reforming spatial planning to meet new challenges, and how the European Union and its cohesion policy shape change through the Europeanisation of territorial governance. Although the capacity of nations, regions and cities to effectively govern the transformation of their territories remains as diverse as ever, this book identifies common trends towards a more responsive and inclusive spatial planning.Scholars and students of comparative spatial planning will value cross-country insights from the analysis. Planning professionals and policy makers will benefit from the knowledge of trends and policy reforms in other countries.

This book explores the ways in which the EU features overlapping spheres of authority. Using territorial ideas prevalent in the Medieval Period, Andreas Faludi offers ways to rethink the current debates surrounding territorialism in the EU.Challenging contemporary European spatial planning, this book explores how modern planning puts the democratic control of state territories and their development in question. The notion of democracy in an increasingly interconnected world is a key issue, and as such Faludi advocates a Europe where national borders are questioned, and ultimately transgressed.Progressive and timely, this book is an invaluable read for academic and practicing planners concerned with European planning and co-operation. Critical social and political geographers will also benefit from the revolutionary insights Faludi offers.

This timely book addresses what it is to be a planner in a changing world: a world in need of transformation in the way planning is done in order to tackle social problems and ecological crises. Nicholas Low argues for the need to revalue public planning, sensitive to the social context in which it takes place.Aiming to define the social and political basis of planning, the book highlights how our neo-liberal world has lost touch with the importance of a well-resourced, impartial, professional and permanent public service to democracy. It does so by exploring the role of planning in long-term social and economic change, different understandings of social power and class and how human-nature relationships might influence ecological governance.Planning scholars, particularly those focusing on urban and environmental planning, will find this book an inspiring and accessible read, integrating a wide range of social theories with social and ecological justice.

Using case studies from the UK and Europe, Chris Couch examines the nature and achievements of the expanded towns programmes that emerged in the mid-20th century to accommodate population growth and overspill from densely populated urban areas. Thought-provoking insights into lessons to be learnt are provided, alongside arguments for further planned expansion of smaller towns today. This timely book investigates how development pressures caused by rapidly growing populations, have led to some disregard for health and housing standards, and how a fresh look at the relationship between urban form and public health is necessary, particularly in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic. The author raises the importance of strong planning and public land acquisition, concluding with a strong case for a new programme of planned expansion in smaller towns. Written in an accessible style, this book is an excellent resource for students and researchers in urban planning, geography and history as well as housing policy, estate management and the built environment. Practitioners and policy makers within town planning and urban development would also find this an invaluable read.

This book explores the ways in which the EU features overlapping spheres of authority. Using territorial ideas prevalent in the Medieval Period, Andreas Faludi offers ways to rethink the current debates surrounding territorialism in the EU.Challenging contemporary European spatial planning, this book explores how modern planning puts the democratic control of state territories and their development in question. The notion of democracy in an increasingly interconnected world is a key issue, and as such Faludi advocates a Europe where national borders are questioned, and ultimately transgressed.Progressive and timely, this book is an invaluable read for academic and practicing planners concerned with European planning and co-operation. Critical social and political geographers will also benefit from the revolutionary insights Faludi offers.

This innovative book defines the concept of immured spaces across time, space and culture and investigates various categories of restricted places such as divided, segregated and protected spaces. Drawing on examples from across the world, this book analyses not only what separates and divides space, but also the wide variety of impacts that the imposition of new barriers and boundaries or the opening of existing ones has on places, people and surrounding areas. Contributors integrate case studies with theoretical analysis to draw conclusions and advance an analytical framework of immured spaces. The chapters present a point of reference to highlight areas of significance and also to encourage further detailed work in this important area.The book has a strong research dimension and will therefore be of interest to academic communities in planning, cultural heritage, psychology, architecture and urban studies. In addition, the use of case studies to develop a common framework will appeal to practitioners and policy makers.

Addressing fundamental questions surrounding the critical changes affecting China’s urban landscape, social organization and community governance, Property Rights and Urban Transformation in China thoroughly reviews the reform of property rights in changing political and economic conditions.Zhu Qian presents a comprehensive study highlighting the key theories and practices in urban and social development processes and provides guidance on how to understand both the parallels and differences that these reveal. Utilizing a cross-sectoral and multi-scalar examination of property rights in a property-led urban environment, the book illustrates increasingly complex interactions between state and non-state actors and examines the characteristics and consequences of rural-urban land conversion. It further analyses the impacts of resettled villagers’ adaptation to urban society and the role of property rights in China’s recent high-profile urban-rural integrated development.This insightful book will ensure a thorough grasp of the pertinent issues for scholars, researchers and practitioners within the fields of urban planning, human geography and land economics. It will also provide a more general systemic understanding for graduate students interested in the recent challenges and strategies in a property rights regime with strong state intervention.

In this innovative book, ten executive politicians with backgrounds in planning from around the world dissect their own political careers. Reflecting on the often structural impact of their work in political decision-making, they also consider the translation of their experiences back into academic life or professional practice.These revealing stories illustrate the vital role of planners in politics. Specific examples show how they were able to make a difference during their tenure by defining problems, setting agendas, using different catalyst for change and raising awareness of issues around sustainability, equity, social justice, poverty and power. Drawing on these experiences to argue for innovative pedagogies and practices in planning, this book illuminates the frequently invisible work of planners in politics, the benefits of their training and education, and the wisdom that they can offer theorists, students and practitioners about transformative planning.This book will be critical reading for researchers and students of spatial planning, urban geography and politics. Urban planners and politicians will also benefit from these insights into the political experience of planning.Contributors include: Y. Alagh, L. Albrechts, A. Balducci, A. Barbanente, A. da Rosa Pires, D. De Leo, J. Ferrão, A. Hagen, J. Lerner, E. Maricato, M. Sutcliffe, G. Tanaka, J. Throgmorton

Offering a fresh perspective, this timely book analyzes the socio-cultural and physical production of planned capital cities through the theoretical lens of feminism. Dorina Pojani evaluates the historical, spatial and symbolic manifestations of new capital cities, as well as the everyday experiences of those living there, to shed light on planning processes, outcomes and contemporary planning issues. Chapters explore seven geographically, culturally and temporally diverse capital cities across Australia, India, Brazil, Nigeria, Kazakhstan, Myanmar and South Korea. Pojani argues that new capital cities have embodied patriarchal systems to govern their respective polities which has magnified problems in these cities. The book highlights how in new capitals, notions such as the state, the nation, urbanism, religion, the economy and even nature have been conceived of or treated in patriarchal terms, to the detriment of women and other disadvantaged groups.This book will be an invigorating read for urban studies and planning scholars. The information about the processes of new city formation will also be of great use to urban planners.

Discussing the ongoing and future challenges of EU Cohesion Policy, this book critically addresses the economic, social and territorial challenges at the heart of the EU‘s policy. It identifies the multifaceted and dynamic nature of the policy as well as the interlinkage with other policies and considers unresolved questions of strategic importance in territorial governance, urban and regional inequalities, and social aspects and well-being.Interdisciplinary perspectives offer well-founded historical views, conceptual thoughts, policy insights and empirical analyses of EU Cohesion Policy, exploring under-represented territorial and spatial perspectives. Fostering a long term, visionary debate, the book looks into the controversial aspects of the policy. It concludes with a rich synthesis of the debate, emphasising three key concerns: disintegration as an alternative to the eroding idea of greater European integration; the discontent of cities and regions due to widening inequalities; and the discretion of member states which prevents the EU from engaging more deeply with social issues.With commentaries on each of the key areas provided by top scholars, this book will be an invigorating read for EU policy makers keen to gain a more critical understanding of key issues around territorial, social and economic cohesion. It will also be an insightful read for economic geography, spatial planning, political science, international relations, European studies and social science scholars in general.