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Research article2020Peer reviewedOpen access

Politicising the landscape: a theoretical contribution towards the development of participation in landscape planning

Calderon, Camilo; Butler, Andrew

Abstract

In this paper, we engage with the topic of public participation in landscape planning. Academic discussions and policy rhetoric tend to build on a conceptualisation of landscape as a democratic entity, yet practices of participatory landscape planning often fall short of these ideals. Most scholars approach this rhetoric-practice gap from procedural and normative positions, defining what makes a successful participatory process. We take an alternative approach, scrutinising the role of landscape planning theory in participatory shortcomings, and reveal how poor substantive theorisation of 'the political' nature of landscapes contributes to the difficulties in realising participatory ideals. We engage theoretically with the political dimension, conceptualising and explaining the implications that differences, conflicts and power relations have for participation in landscape planning, that is, politicising the landscape. This theoretical engagement helps bring about a much-needed realignment of substantive theory, procedural theory and practice for developing participation in landscape planning.

Keywords

Landscape planning; participation; difference; conflict; power

Published in

Landscape Research
2020, Volume: 45, number: 2, pages: 152-163 Publisher: ROUTLEDGE JOURNALS, TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD

    Sustainable Development Goals

    SDG16 Peace, justice and strong institutions

    UKÄ Subject classification

    Landscape Architecture
    Other Social Sciences not elsewhere specified
    Human Geography

    Publication identifier

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/01426397.2019.1594739

    Permanent link to this page (URI)

    https://res.slu.se/id/publ/99657