Convergence, Divergence, or Constancy of Spatial Planning? Connecting Theoretical Concepts with Empirical Evidence from Europe

Abstract

Spatial planning across much of the world is experiencing reform in response to common challenges of globalization, sustainable development, economic competitiveness, economic reforms, and demographic change. In Europe, greater transnational networking and cooperation on spatial planning, often facilitated by European initiatives, have resulted in planning policy makers at different levels being increasingly influenced and exposed to policies and practices from elsewhere. These processes might be assumed to be leading to some sort of convergence of spatial planning policy. However, this is not necessarily the case: there are deeply embedded differences between nations in terms of political, professional, and administrative cultures and structures. There are also significant differences in social models and welfare systems across Europe, as well as different histories. These differences, which are explored conceptually and empirically in this article, potentially put a brake on the idea of the convergence or harmonization of national and sub-national arrangements for spatial planning.