European Regional Science Association
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European Regional Science Association
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The abstract for paper number 461:
Maja Fredotovic, Faculty of Economics, Split, Croatia
Sustainable Development – Planning Redefined
The history of both spatial and regional development witnessed nemurous different understandigs and practices of development on one hand, and planning, on the other. They ranged from politically-directed, centrally planned, across the macro directed down to the contemplations over the abandnong the planning in the development.
Approaches to the development planning (which is especially stressed in spatial and regional development) changed from sectoral, system to holistic and integral. Methodological approaches also changed, interdisciplinarity succedeed multidisciplinarity. Old and vague forecasting models were substituted by precise and powerful computer-based systems and models.
Moreover, there was an outstanding growth of management and development planning systems, especially particularly related to spatial development. Finally, a concept of sustainable development emerged, with the underpinning philosophy that seemed to be able to track the way to the solutions to the problems of spatial and regional development.
A decade after the Rio, the changes are not so fascinating. There are even the disputes whether the sustainable development is really sustainable.
On the other hand, there are no significant theoretical advances in the development planning area. What went wrong and what can be done?
The author claims that the planning has to be in an active relationship with the environment. In other words, it is conscicous, legitime and organized activity focused on development, future. It conveys present into the future. Therefore, it suffers from and thus has to manage the changes that are both the cause and consequence of the development process.
Furthermore, the speed of growth of technique and technologies provokes quick and yet fundamental changes in all development domains and therefore planning methodologies as well. There is an growing need for the implementation of integral approach, especially in the areas of regional and spatial planning where the consequences of past practices are the most pressing. The author claims, based on the analysis of the development as system, that the interdisciplinarity has to be replaced with transdiciplinarity.
The next claim refers to the heterogeneity of the development system which causes development turbulences. Within such a framework, the author contemplates over the efficiency of the planning system and planning method.
She advocates a rather new approach to planning, in both spatial and regional development. It is, naturally, based on the thought of sustainability and foundation of integral method. At the same time, it is enriched with the creative thinking, strategic discussion and joint concerns. The main idea is (theoretically) based on the identification of right long-term objectives and devotion to their achievements. Practically, it involves scenario method and public participation.
The theoretical considerations will be illustrated through possible paths of processes of (sustainable) development planning and strategy implementation on the example of the spatial development of Dalmatian region (Croatian coastal area).
Unfortunately full paper has not been submitted.