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Spaces of Neoliberal Experimentation: Soft Spaces, Postpolitics, and Neoliberal Governmentality

Author

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  • Graham Haughton

    (School of Environment and Development, The University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, England)

  • Phil Allmendinger

    (Department of Land Economy, University of Cambridge, 19 Silver Street, Cambridge CB3 9EP, England)

  • Stijn Oosterlynck

    (Centre on Inequality, Poverty, Social Exclusion and the City, Department of Sociology, Antwerp University, Belgium)

Abstract

This paper examines the proliferation of soft spaces of governance, focusing on planning. We move beyond more functional explanations to explore the politics of soft spaces, more specifically how soft space forms of governance operate as integral to processes of neoliberalisation, highlighting how such state forms facilitate neoliberalisation through their flexibility and variability. Recent state restructuring of the planning sector and emerging trends for soft spaces in England under the Coalition government proposals are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Graham Haughton & Phil Allmendinger & Stijn Oosterlynck, 2013. "Spaces of Neoliberal Experimentation: Soft Spaces, Postpolitics, and Neoliberal Governmentality," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 45(1), pages 217-234, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:envira:v:45:y:2013:i:1:p:217-234
    DOI: 10.1068/a45121
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    20. Pallagst, Karina M., 2018. "Ausgewählte grenzüberschreitende Kooperationsformen und die INTERREG-Förderung in Europa," Arbeitsberichte der ARL: Aufsätze, in: Pallagst, Karina M. & Hartz, Andrea & Caesar, Beate (ed.), Border Futures - Zukunft Grenze - Avenir Frontière: Zukunftsfähigkeit grenzüberschreitender Zusammenarbeit, volume 20, pages 353-361, ARL – Akademie für Raumentwicklung in der Leibniz-Gemeinschaft.
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