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Making E uropean Space in Spatial Planning in Northern Finland
Author(s) -
Luukkonen Juho
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
growth and change
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.657
H-Index - 55
eISSN - 1468-2257
pISSN - 0017-4815
DOI - 10.1111/j.1468-2257.2012.00591.x
Subject(s) - spatial planning , relocation , space (punctuation) , microfoundations , europeanisation , regional science , subjectification , economic geography , geography , adaptation (eye) , political science , politics , environmental planning , computer science , economics , linguistics , law , macroeconomics , programming language , operating system , physics , optics , philosophy
The article explores E uropean integration in northern F inland. It examines the discursive side of the E uropean integration process by investigating the interplay between E uropean‐level spatial policies and regional territorial practices. Spatial planning is often portrayed from an instrumentalist view as a technical, evidence‐based policy. However, spatial planning is highly political and an effective way of space making: As an inclusive and/or exclusive action, it (re‐)defines spatial relations and (re‐)produces spatial scales. Thus, spatial planning is considered here as a central part of the E uropean integration process through which the regions are spatialized as part of Europe. The empirical analysis shows that polycentrism is the main spatial idea underlying the reorganization of European space. The adaptation to E uropean policies manifests itself through the subjectification, rescaling and relocation of the region.