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Challenging the doxaof

planning for certainty: a casestudy of Melbourne and its

implications for strategic

spatial planning theory andpractice

Cael Leskovec, RMIT University

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Contents

Context

Research Concern and Aims

Research Questions

Methodology

Case Study Design

Research Process

Data Analysis

Timetable

References

Questions

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Context

Strategic spatial planning, known also as strategic

planning, spatial planning and metropol itan planning, is a

term used to describe the planning process of shaping the

long-term future of a city or region through the production

of a vision, actions and means for implementation(Albrechts, 2004; Healey, 2004)

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Context

Strategic spatial planning can be considered to have two

main narratives (Albrechts, 2006):

1. The master narrative of traditional, rational approaches

2. An emerging narrative of alternatives approaches that

recognise the inability of traditional approaches to operate

within a complex and uncertain world

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Context

Master narrative

Strategic spatial planning has traditionally sought to

provide control and certainty for cities and regions

(Albrechts, 2006)

Influenced by rational planning approaches

Blueprint planning

Synoptic planning

Communicative planning

The provision of certainty has today become anunquestioned truth, a doxa, in metropolitan strategic

spatial planning and the wider planning system in Australia

(KPMG, 2010; Searle and Bunker, 2010)

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Context Emerging narrative

However, there has been recognition that strategic spatialplanning is incapable of dealing with the environmental,economic, political uncertainties of a complex and rapidlychanging world (Balducci et al., 2011)

Uncertainty consists of both environmental uncertaintyand process uncertainty (Abbott, 2005)

Strategic spatial planners have traditionally addresseduncertainty in three ways:

1. Better data collection and modelling

2. Avoiding it3. Deferring it

Traditional strategic spatial plans are static documents,unable to adapt to uncertainties (Friedmann, 2004)

Cities are currently challenged to find spatial forms suitedto uncertainty

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Context

Emerging narrative

Despite increasing recognition of the need for more flexible

strategic spatial planning to adapt to uncertainties, there

have been just a few attempts to devises new approaches:

Milan, Italy

Rotterdam, Netherlands

Troms, Norway

Melbourne, Australia

These cases highlight the potential for a change to the wayplanners do strategic spatial planning

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Research Concern and Aims

This research project is concerned with understanding

how strategic spatial planning might deal with uncertainty

The research project has two key aims:

1. To discover how and why the doxaof providing certaintycame into existence and has continued to be reproduced

in strategic spatial planning in Melbourne, Australia; and

2. To determine the implications of the doxafor strategic

spatial planning theory and practice.

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Research Questions

To achieve its aims, the research project asks f ive

questions:

1. What is the nature of the doxaof certainty in strategic

spatial planning in Melbourne?

2. What have been the implications of strategic spatial

planning for certainty in an uncertain world?

3. How successful was Melbourne2030s attempt to achieve

more flexible strategic spatial planning and challenge the

doxaof strategic spatial planning for certainty?

4. Is more flexible strategic spatial planning possible?

5. What would a framework for more flexible strategic spatial

planning look like?

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Methodology

Post-structural methodology

Post-structural theory has been used to explain the

relationship between strategic spatial planning and

uncertainty

There is a need for a strong post-structuralist frame to

underlay the creative work of strategic practice in a

conceptualisation of the complexities of urban dynamics,

their multiple relationalities, their openness to change and

their potential to become otherwise (Balducci et al., 2011)

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Methodology

Foucaultian genealogical approach

Methodological approach to historical analysis developed

in the 1970s by Foucault

Used to explain the development of a deep-seated practice

or belief that is held to be fact (Williams, 2005)

Concerned with discovering how discursive and non-

discursive practices are related by forces of power to form

a wide-held belief (Foucault, 1977; 1978; 1984)

Relatively unused in the planning domain However, has been used well by planners (e.g., Boyer,

1983; Fischler, 1998)

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Methodology

Foucaultian genealogical approach

Begins with the problematisation of an ingrained and

accepted practice or belief (Williams, 2005)

Requires the discovery of the dispositifsof the problem

The ensemble consisting of discourse, institutions,

architectural forms, regulatory decisions, laws,

administrative measures, scientific statements,

philosophical, moral and philanthropic propositions in

short, the said as much as unsaid (Foucault, 1980: 194-

195) Eventalising the problem

Rediscovering the connections, encounters, supports,

blockages, plays of forces, strategies and so on, that at a

given moment establish what subsequently counts as

being self-evident, universal and necessary (Foucault,

2000: 226-227)

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Case Study Design

A case study design was chosen for a number of reasons:

Case study aligns with this projects research aims and

questions

Provides the opportunity to provide a detailed explanation

of an unfamiliar phenomenon

A single-case study design was selected for a number of

reasons:

A shortage of suitable cases

Sufficient depth and detail

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Case Study Design

Melbourne was selected as a single-case study for a

number of reasons:

There exists in Melbourne a doxaof providing certainty

within strategic spatial planning

Melbourne has a rich strategic spatial planning history

The strategic spatial planning history of Melbourne

remains underexplored

The case is local

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Research Process

The research process is divided into two sections:

1. Literature review

2. Data collection

Archival research Interviews

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Research Process

Literature Review

Undertake a further and more in-depth review and analysis

of published literature relevant to the project

To determine the implications of strategic spatial planning

for certainty in an uncertain world (RQ2)

To help determine whether more flexible strategic spatial

planning is possible according to the published literature

(RQ4)

Ongoing process

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Research Process

Archival research

Undertake archival research focusing on:

Strategic spatial plans and associated documents

Planning authority documents

To discover how and why the doxa of providing certainty

came into existence and continued to be reproduced in

strategic spatial planning in Melbourne (RQ1)

Archival resources include:

DoT Library State Library of Victoria

National Library of Australia Trove Repository

RMIT University Library

University of Melbourne Library

Private collections

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Research Process Interviews

Undertake qualitative, semi-structured interviews with keyinformants

To further explain the doxaof strategic spatial planning forcertainty (RQ1)

To determine the successfulness of Melbourne 2030sattempt to achieve more flexible strategic spatial planningand challenge the doxa (RQ3)

To determine if flexible strategic spatial planning if possible(RQ4)

To determine what a framework for more flexible strategicspatial planning would look like (RQ5)

20-30 interviews

Snowballing

Triangulation

Ethics approval

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Data Analysis

Discourse analysis approach

Archival research

Thematic analysis approach

Interviews

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Timetable

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References

Abbott, J . (2005). Unders tanding and managing the unknown. Journal of Planning Education and Research, 24(3), 237-251.

Alb rechts, L. (2004). Strat egi c (spat ial ) planning reexamined . Environment and Planning B: Planning and Design, 31(5), 743-758.

Alb rechts, L. (2006a). Bri dge the gap : from spati al p lanning t o s trateg ic p ro jects . European Planning Stud ies, 14(10), 1487-1500.

Balducc i, A., Boelens, L., Hillier, J., Nyseth, T., & Wilkinson , C. (2011). Introduction : Strategic spatial pl anning in uncertaint y:theory and exploratory practice. Town Planning Review, 82(5), 481-501.

Boyer, M. C. (1983). Dreaming the Rational City: The Myth of American City Planning. Cambridge, Massachusetts: MIT Press.

Fischler, R. (1998). Toward a genealogy of plannin g: zoning and the Welfare State. Planning Perspectives, 13(4), 389-410.

Friedmann, J. (2004). Strategic spatial planning and the lo nger range. Planning Theory and Practice, 5 (1), pp . 49-67.

Foucault, M. (1980). Power/Knowledge: Selected Interviews and Other Writings, 1972-1977. New York: Pantheon Bo oks.

Foucault, M. (1984). Nietzsche, Genealogy, History. In P. Rainbow (Ed.), The Foucault Reader. London: Penguin Book.

Foucault, M. (1988). The History of Sexuality (R. Hurley, Trans.). New York: Vintage Books . (Original work publi shed 1978).

Foucault, M. (1995). Discipline and Punish: The Birth of the Prison(A. Sheridan, Trans.). New York: Vintage Book s. (Original workpubl ished 1977).

Foucault, M. (2000). Questions of m ethod. In J. Faubion (Ed.), Power: Essential Works of Foucault, 1954-1984(Vol. 3). Londo n:Penguin.

Healey, P. (2004). The treatment of space and place in t he new strategic spatial planni ng in Europe. International Journal of Urbanand Regional Research, 28(1), 45-67.

KPMG. (2010). Built Environment Meets Parliament: Spotlight on Australia's Capital Cities: An Independent Assessment of CityPlanning Systems. Sydney: KPMG.

Rapley, T. (2011). Some Pragmatics o f Qualitative Data Analysis . In D. Silverman (Ed.), Qualitative Research: Issues o f Theory,Method and Practice (3rd ed.). London: SAGE Publications.

Searle, G., & Bunk er, R. (2010). Metropolitan s trategic planning: an Australian paradigm? Planning Theory, 9(3), 163-180.

Williams, A. (2005). Genealogy as Methodology in the Philosophy of Michel Foucault . Paper presented at the London FoucaultCircle Seminar Series, Universit y of East Lo ndon , UK.

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Questions?