Handling the Two Conflicting Discourses of Partnerships and Participation in Regional Planning

Abstract

This article argues that regional planning is dominated by two conflicting discourses that have different principles of involvement: the discourse of partnerships and the discourse of broad participation. These discourses and principles are not easy to reconcile in practice. On the basis of studies in the literature and a comprehensive case study, this article discusses how these conflicting discourses in regional planning challenge democratic norms, and how this problem is dealt with by the regional political leadership. The article shows that the use of meta-governance strategies and broad arenas of participation might be used in this respect, for example, by constantly having a focus on maintaining democratic anchorage when partnerships are used in regional planning processes.

Acknowledgements

The article is partly based on the project “Handling goal-conflicts in compact city/centre development: How is local sustainable planning managed through new planning tools and practices?” (2011–2015) financed by the Norwegian Research Council, and partly on the cooperation at Centre for Innovation in Services (CIS) at Lillehammer University College.

Notes

1. Innovation Norway, Industrial Development Corporation of Norway.

2. The VRI programme of the National Research Council.

3. In 1997/1998, the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development recommended all counties to develop Programmes of Regional Development, and gave clear instructions who were to be invited into these programmes.

The Ministry expects all Counties to develop a Programme of Regional Development for 2000. The programmes will show the connections/links between the work of planning in the County and the instruments used to promote regional development in the County. Cooperation between Counties might be necessary to respond to the challenges in the regions. It is the responsibility of the Counties to develop annual Programmes of Regional Development, in cooperation with the district offices of the Norwegian Industrial and Regional Development Fund, the County Governor (farming and forestry), the Directorate for fisheries, Aetat (public employment office, now NAV), educational and transport and communication authorities, in addition to representatives from the private sector and Municipalities.

4. http://www.hedmark.org/Hedmark-fylkeskommune/Nyheter/Regionalt-partnerskap-med-felles-ambisjon-om-220.000-i-2020 (accessed 22 March 2012).