Changes, Problems, and Challenges in Swedish Spatial Planning—An Analysis of Power Dynamics

Abstract

Abstract:During the past few decades, the Swedish spatial planning system has experienced numerous problems and challenges. In particular, there have been changes in legislation and an increased neoliberalisation of planning that gives private actors a larger influence over the planning processes in Sweden. In this article, we analyse these changes through the lenses of collaborative and neoliberal planning in order to illuminate the shifting power relations within spatial planning in Sweden. We analyse the changes of power relations from three dimensions of power based on interviews with different kinds of planners throughout Sweden. We show that power relations in the Swedish spatial planning system have shifted and that neoliberalisation and an increased focus on collaborative planning approaches have made spatial planning more complex in recent decades. This has led to a change of role for planners form actual planners to collaborators. We conclude that market-oriented planning (neoliberal planning) and collaborative planning have made it more difficult for spatial planners in Sweden to work towards sustainable urban futures.

Ways Forward for Advancing Ecosystem Services in Municipal Planning—Experiences from Stockholm County

“…The PBA mainly regulates exploitation, while the Environmental Code mainly addresses the conservation/protection of land or water [49]. Municipal comprehensive plans (MCP) and detailed development (local) plans are the main statutory planning instruments in Swedish spatial planning [50]. In accordance with the PBA, municipalities have an important role in coordinating their comprehensive plans with plans and policies at other levels of government and demonstrating how the international, national, regional, and local goals will be met.…”

The dialogical relationship between spatial planning and place branding: conceptualizing regionalization discourses in Sweden

“…This overall neo-liberal shift is visible in most European countries, including Sweden, and has been discussed as a major trend in planning and urban development (Peck, Theodore, & Brenner, 2009). According to Koglin and Pettersson (2017), the shift, which includes a more market-oriented planning approach, has to be understood in the context of the economic situation in the municipalities in Sweden (see also Persson, 2013). Given the increasing interrelation of public policy and place branding (Lucarelli, 2017), one can observe an increasing reliance of hiring and using external branding and communication consultancy firms in municipal and regional planning (Brorström, 2015(Brorström, , 2017 in a way that make spatial planning and place branding more similar and overlapping.…”

“…In equal terms, the context of spatial planning in Sweden may be described as being shaped by both centralized and decentralized policy; the municipalities have a strong role in providing welfare services and there is a regulated formal monopoly that is in the hands of municipalities, which heralds the main decision on spatial planning and place branding practices and policies. However, as found in studies on recent changes in urban and regional planning practices (Koglin & Pettersson, 2017), the strong role of the municipalities has been reduced as a consequence of new collaborative forms of policy making and public−private partnerships, together with a focus on pro-growth policies.…”

“…The main purpose of the strategic alliance and the regional branding is to articulate and acknowledge the regional strengths and potential for development in a national Swedish context, but also in an international tourism context, where the North of Sweden is competing for attention and resources with other similar regions in northern Nordic countries. This process of branding was driven as a re-orientation of strategic regional policy decided on by the municipalities, towards regional initiatives focused on tourism and destination development as a consequence of the shift towards a more market-oriented and multilevel collaborative type of governance in municipal planning (Koglin & Pettersson, 2017). As in the northern Nordic region in general, tourism development has been promoted as the main economic activity that supports cross-border collaboration and collaboration between municipalities (Prokkola, 2011).…”

Tamansari: Dulu, Kini Dan Nanti

“…Yang perlu diperhatikan dalam proses perencanaan adalah menghindari perencanaan yang bersifat neoliberal (perencanaan yang berorientasi pasar), karena akan mengarah pada kurangnya kesejahteraan publik dan pelaku swasta akan memiliki pengaruh yang lebih besar. Hal ini tidak sejalan dengan pembangunan berkelanjutan yang lebih mengutamakan potensi ekonomi lokal (Koglin & Pettersson, 2017). Tahap pembangunan meliputi perijinan, koordinasi dengan PT.KAI, Hotel Tamansari, BPBD Kabupaten Serang dan masyarakat tentang pembangunan fisik Tamansari, persiapan tempat relokasi pedagang, relokasi pedagang, rekayasa lalu lintas selama tahap pembangunan.…”