Limits of localism: Institutional perspectives on communicativeness, neoliberalization and sustainability in Finnish spatial planning
Thesis event information
Date and time of the thesis defence
Place of the thesis defence
Linnanmaa, sali IT116
Topic of the dissertation
Limits of localism: Institutional perspectives on communicativeness, neoliberalization and sustainability in Finnish spatial planning
Doctoral candidate
Master of Social Sciences Jonne Hytönen
Faculty and unit
University of Oulu Graduate School, Faculty of Science, Geography Research Unit
Subject of study
Geography
Opponent
Professor Jouni Häkli, Tampere University
Custos
Professor Toni Ahlqvist, University of Turku
Conditions of sustainable planning: A view on transforming relationship between market actors and public regulation in Finland
According to this doctoral thesis an increase in municipal planning powers has changed the priorities of spatial planning in Finland. Not all municipalities have the same abilities for sustainable planning.
In his thesis, planning scholar Jonne Hytönen has analyzed the transformation of Finnish planning from planning-theory and state-theory viewpoints. According to Hytönen, long standing increases in municipal discretionary power in planning has changed the relationship between public regulation and market actors. Increasingly, enhancing competitiveness of municipalities and city-regions has become a key target of planning.
The thesis describes how welfarist spatial planning with an aim to continuity and regulation of growth has shifted to localist land use planning practice. Making planning processes fluent, facilitative and more flexible has been defined as an important goal regarding planning. Legitimacy of planning is sought after from communication with local stakeholders, as recommended by many international theorists.
The thesis argues that increasing local discretion in planning is not without problems. Enhancing competitiveness of municipalities predisposes to facilitation of development projects in a problematic way. Following the principles of sustainable planning might become more difficult with increasing public austerity, which needs to be considered when making amendments to the juridical framework of planning.
In addition, the thesis concludes that communicative planning practices in local contexts alone does not ensure that outcomes of planning processes would turn out to be sustainable or democratic. Collective societal and environmental concerns should be integrated into future planning agendas, while mediating between particular interests in local contexts.
In his thesis, planning scholar Jonne Hytönen has analyzed the transformation of Finnish planning from planning-theory and state-theory viewpoints. According to Hytönen, long standing increases in municipal discretionary power in planning has changed the relationship between public regulation and market actors. Increasingly, enhancing competitiveness of municipalities and city-regions has become a key target of planning.
The thesis describes how welfarist spatial planning with an aim to continuity and regulation of growth has shifted to localist land use planning practice. Making planning processes fluent, facilitative and more flexible has been defined as an important goal regarding planning. Legitimacy of planning is sought after from communication with local stakeholders, as recommended by many international theorists.
The thesis argues that increasing local discretion in planning is not without problems. Enhancing competitiveness of municipalities predisposes to facilitation of development projects in a problematic way. Following the principles of sustainable planning might become more difficult with increasing public austerity, which needs to be considered when making amendments to the juridical framework of planning.
In addition, the thesis concludes that communicative planning practices in local contexts alone does not ensure that outcomes of planning processes would turn out to be sustainable or democratic. Collective societal and environmental concerns should be integrated into future planning agendas, while mediating between particular interests in local contexts.
Last updated: 1.3.2023