No Permanent Friends, No Permanent Enemies: Agonistic Ethos, Tactical Coalitions, and Sustainable Infrastructure

Abstract

Turbulent debates between divergent actors are part of the fiber of planning. One manifestation of tensions is the emergence of tactical coalitions with citizens finding common ground across the political divide. This article seeks to theorize such coalition formation for which planning scholarship is sparse. Drawing from agonism, other scholarship, and three U.S. cases of sustainable infrastructure, I develop a typology of tactical coalitions based on their level of strategic interaction, duration, and transformation. This research and theorization provides compelling evidence that polarized citizens connect in agonistic and deliberative ways outside of formal planning processes and have influence in decision making.

Sustainable Infrastructure: A Systematic Literature Review on Finance Arrangements and Governance Modes

“…According to Lenferink et al (2013) and Brown et al (2012), relational contracts based on trust enable stakeholders to create unique and interdependent relationships between public and private actors, which support the implementation of complicated projects by reducing conflicts. Trapenberg Frick (2021) and Mostafavi et al (2014) argue that building trust among citizens and communities through close and transparent communication also contributes to the realization of projects by gaining their support.…”

Efficiency or equality? The utilitarianism–egalitarianism trade‐off determines carbon allocation preference

“…By highlighting the pivotal role of moral trade‐offs in international carbon allocation decision‐making, our work also offers an alternative perspective for the contemporary debate on international relations. Extant literature convincingly argues that nations act solely on the basis of self‐interests, without moral consideration (Machiavelli, 2015; Trapenberg Frick, 2021). Empirical findings revealing a state‐serving bias in carbon allocation negotiations have been taken as strong evidence supporting this view (e.g., Brick & Visser, 2015; Carlsson et al., 2013; Kriss et al., 2011; Lange et al., 2010; Mukherjee, 2020).…”

The rise of ‘infrastructural populism’: Urban infrastructure and right‐wing politics

“…Public administration (Peters & Pierre, 2019) Protests against diversity and gender awareness in public service provision Urban policing and urban planning (Fainstein & Novy, 2023;Filion, 2011;Trapenberg Frick, 2021) Opposition to democratic control and sustainable infrastructure planning Source: Authors compilation.…”