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European Planning and the Polycentric Consensus: Wishful Thinking?

Author

Listed:
  • Christian Vandermotten
  • Ludovic Halbert
  • Marcel Roelandts
  • Pierre Cornut

Abstract

Vandermotten C., Halbert L., Roelandts M. and Cornut P. European planning and the polycentric consensus: wishful thinking?, Regional Studies. European Union planning documents enhance the values of polycentrism as a tool to promote a more efficient, equitable and sustainable development. This paper highlights how and suggests why a descriptive approach of the European urban system became progressively a normative concept. It examines how biases in the measurement of polycentricity in the European Spatial Observatory Network (ESPON) 1.1.1. report (2005) are related to this normative approach. The empirical findings do not suggest any clear correlation between more polycentricity and more economic efficiency or even more spatial equity. The paper examines the reasons for the European Union tenacity to promote polycentrism. This concept seems to be the result of a political compromise and a strange hybrid between two competing approaches for the future of the European space. [image omitted] Vandermotten C., Halbert L., Roelandts M. et Cornut P. La planification europeenne et le consensus du polycentrisme: un mythe politique?, Regional Studies. Les documents de planification de l'Union europeenne promeuvent le polycentrisme, presente comme un outil au service d'un developpement plus efficace, plus equitable et plus durable. Cet article examine comment et pourquoi une approche descriptive du systeme urbain europeen est progressivement devenue un concept normatif. Il examine les liaisons entre les biais dans la mesure de la polycentricite telle qu'elle a ete pratiquee par l'etude European Spatial Observatory Network (ESPON) 1.1.1. (2005) et cette approche normative. Nos resultats empiriques ne montrent pas de correlation significative entre des systemes urbains plus polycentriques, plus d'efficacite economique ou plus d'equite spatiale. L'article examine les raisons de la volonte de promotion du polycentrisme par les autorites europeennes. Cette promotion semble resulter d'un compromis politique et le concept apparait comme un etrange hybride entre deux conceptions opposees du futur de la construction spatiale de l'Europe. Armatures urbaines Polycentrisme Polycentricite European Spatial Observatory Network (ESPON) Politiques de planification europeennes Vandermotten C., Halbert L., Roelandts M. und Cornut P. Europaische Raumplanung und der Polyzentrismuskonsens: politische Wunschvorstellung?, Regional Studies. Offizielle europaische Raumplanungsdokumente vertreten die Idee des Polyzentrismus als Werkzeug fur eine effizientere, gerechtere und nachhaltigere Entwicklung. Dieser Artikel untersucht wie und warum ein ursprunglich beschreibendes Konzept zu einem normativen Konzept geworden ist. Er erforscht die Verbindungen zwischen voreingenommenen Messungen des Polyzentrismus, so wie in der European Spatial Observatory Network (ESPON) 1.1.1-Studie (2005), und dieser normativen Ausrichtung des Konzepts. Unsere empirischen Ergebnisse zeigen keine signifikante Korrelation zwischen polyzentrischen Stadtesystemen und wirtschaftlicher Effizienz oder raumlicher Gerechtigkeit. Der Artikel untersucht die Grunde fur den Willen der europaischen Behorden zur Forderung des Polyzentrismus. Diese Forderung scheint das Resultat eines politischen Kompromisses, und das Konzept wirkt wie eine merkwurdige Hybride zwischen zwei gegensatzlichen Konzeptionen der Zukunft der raumlichen Konstruktion Europas. Urbane Stuktur Polyzentrismus European Spatial Observatory Network (ESPON) Europaische Raumplanung Vandermotten C., Halbert L., Roelandts M. y Cornut P. Planificacion europea y el consenso policentrico: ¿una ilusion?, Regional Studies. Los documentos de planificacion de la UE mejoran los valores de policentrismo como herramienta para fomentar un desarrollo mas eficaz, justo y sostenible. En este articulo destacamos como y por que motivo el planteamiento descriptivo del sistema urbano europeo se convirtio poco a poco en un concepto normativo. Examinamos que relacion tiene este planteamiento normativo con los sesgos al medir la policentralidad en el informe European Spatial Observatory Network (ESPON) 1.1.1. (2005). Nuestros resultados empiricos no sugieren una clara relacion entre mas policentralidad y mas eficacia economica o incluso mas igualdad espacial. Aqui analizamos los motivos de la tenacidad de la UE por fomentar el policentrismo. Este concepto parece ser el resultado de un compromiso politico y un extrano hibrido entre dos planteamientos competitivos para el futuro del espacio europeo. Redes urbanas Policentrismo Policentralidad European Spatial Observatory Network (ESPON) Politicas europeas de planificacion

Suggested Citation

  • Christian Vandermotten & Ludovic Halbert & Marcel Roelandts & Pierre Cornut, 2008. "European Planning and the Polycentric Consensus: Wishful Thinking?," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 42(8), pages 1205-1217.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:regstd:v:42:y:2008:i:8:p:1205-1217
    DOI: 10.1080/00343400701874206
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Brenner, Neil, 2004. "New State Spaces: Urban Governance and the Rescaling of Statehood," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780199270064.
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    1. Martijn Burger & Evert Meijers, 2012. "Form Follows Function? Linking Morphological and Functional Polycentricity," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 49(5), pages 1127-1149, April.
    2. John B Parr, 2008. "Cities and Regions: Problems and Potentials," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 40(12), pages 3009-3026, December.
    3. Jiejing Wang, 2020. "Urban government capacity and economic performance: An analysis of Chinese cities," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 52(5), pages 981-1004, August.
    4. Margherita Carlucci & Ilaria Zambon & Luca Salvati, 2020. "Diversification in urban functions as a measure of metropolitan complexity," Environment and Planning B, , vol. 47(7), pages 1289-1305, September.
    5. Gaëtan Montero & Geoffrey Caruso & Mohamed Hilal & Isabelle Thomas, 2023. "A partition-free spatial clustering that preserves topology: application to built-up density," Journal of Geographical Systems, Springer, vol. 25(1), pages 5-35, January.
    6. Dong Lin & Andrew Allan & Jianqiang Cui, 2016. "Exploring Differences in Commuting Behaviour among Various Income Groups during Polycentric Urban Development in China: New Evidence and Its Implications," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(11), pages 1-17, November.
    7. Kyusang Kwon & Minho Seo, 2018. "Does the Polycentric Urban Region Contribute to Economic Performance? The Case of Korea," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-10, November.
    8. Juho Luukkonen & Sami Moisio, 2016. "On the socio-technical practices of the European Union territory," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 48(8), pages 1452-1472, August.
    9. Kincses, Áron & Nagy, Zoltán & Tóth, Géza, 2015. "Modelling the spatial structure of Europe," MPRA Paper 73957, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    10. Pedro Palma & Daniel Rauhut & Alois Humer, 2015. "Polycentricity and Social Services of General Interest: A Multivariate Analysis," ERSA conference papers ersa15p1143, European Regional Science Association.
    11. Davide Burgalassi & Tommaso Luzzati, 2015. "Urban spatial structure and environmental emissions: a survey of the literature and some empirical evidence for Italian NUTS-3 regions," Discussion Papers 2015/199, Dipartimento di Economia e Management (DEM), University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.

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