Without agreement: Inclusive processes and conflict transformation

This article studies two inclusive processes that were carried out inGenoa about the strongly contested projects of a motorway and a waste incinerator.It shows how inclusive processes may contribute to the de-escalation of the conflicteven when stakeholders are not able to reach an agreement.In both cases inclusive processes favoured the development of win-win solutionsderiving from various form of coordination that took place without reaching anagreement involving citizens committees and environmental groups.Several innovations in the motorway project that reduced the negative externalitiesfor residents were introduced through unilateral adjustments by the proponents afterthe conclusion of the process. The project for a new less polluting waste facilitycame out from a negotiation among technicians with different orientations, even ifnone of them was entitled to represent the organized opponents.At the same time in both cases the opponents did not delegitimize the processesduring their implementation. In fact the main actors were connected by a field ofrelations that nobody had the interest to break. In the case of the motorway thenetwork was promoted by the commission that managed the inclusive process throughan exchange of resources (information/legitimation). In the case of the incinerator itwas promoted by the municipal administration trough an enlargement of the issueat stake.