Landscapes of Peripherization in North-Eastern Germany's Countryside: New Challenges for Planning Theory and Practice

Abstract

The countryside of North-Eastern Germany is characterized by declining population size, and this 'shrinking' has severe impacts upon the regional quality of life, land use and infrastructure planning. However, population decrease in these regions is just one symptom of an overall process of peripherization, which needs to be addressed not only in terms of demographic change, but in the context of restructuring global relations and societal change. While debates on coping strategies still focus on technical innovations and the redefinition of planning standards, we suggest the creation of more flexible planning frameworks that leave space for placeadequate, adaptive and participatory solutions.

Transformations of Modern Infrastructure Planning in Rural Regions: The Case of Water Infrastructures in Brandenburg, Germany

“…These debates confirm the notion that a "demographization" of the political debate over the future of Eastern Germany is taking place (Beetz et al, 2008). This means that in both planning and politics, demographic change itself has been identified as a key cause for recent problems.…”

“…In Figure 2, these differences are shown clearly. One projection for population development in Brandenburg until 2020 implies that the belt neighbouring Berlin will continue to grow (2001: 903,000; 2020: 1,015,200), while the external belt will shrink further (2001: 1,682,700; 2020: 1,396,200) (Beetz et al, 2008). Depopulation is accompanied by an ageing remaining population in outer Brandenburg, where the Transformations of Modern Infrastructure Planning 1505 average age has risen from 37.6 years in 1991 to 44.5 years in 2007 (+6.9 years).…”

Les services à la population dans les régions rurales périphériques de l’Allemagne

“…Cette modification spatiale et qualitative du rayon d'action des individus concerne plus particulièrement les populations socialement défavorisées. Dans le meilleur des cas, les possibilités d'action sont limitées ; dans des cas moins favorables, cela conduit non seulement à une diminution de la qualité de vie, mais aussi à une réduction de l'égalité des chances et à l'exclusion sociale, comme l'ont montré les travaux de Beetz et al Pour les espaces ruraux d'Allemagne du nordest (Beetz, Huning et Plieninger, 2008 ;Naumann et Reichert-Schick, 2012). Ce processus est par exemple indéniable dans le cas du démantèlement des infrastructures scolaires.…”

3.1 Is Social Innovation a Key to “De-peripheralization”? Dealing with Challenges of Peripheralization on a Local Level

“…However, so far the debates on coping strategies for shrinking regions have primarily focused on technological innovations and redefining top-down planning standards (Beetz et al 2008). Forms of participation and civil society mobilization are still underrepresented aspects in the discourse.…”

“…As municipal tax revenues and financial resources drop drastically in these areas, there are growing difficulties to maintain local infrastructures. Among these, peripheralized areas suffer often from two-fold stigmatization process: an internal process by the residents themselves; and an external process, for instance, driven by media or press (Beetz et al 2008(Beetz et al , keim 2006.…”