Participation between utopia and reality.

The case study of Sardinian Regional

Landscape Plan

Federica Leone1

1 Doctoral Candidate, University of Cagliari, Italy

Goals

1. Comprehension of difficulties to translate theoretical participatory

approaches into a real planning process.

2. Analysis of main factors that influence the success of a participatory

process.

3. Understanding the gap between an ideal well-participated plan and a real

one.

Objectives and structure of presentationObjectives and structure of presentation

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Framework

1. Methodology.

2. Normative and pragmatic paradigms of participation.

3. The case study of Sardinian Regional Landscape Plan.

4. Analysis of data.

5. Conclusions.

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Methodology

General Research questions

Selection case study (Sardinian RLP)

Collection of relevant data Semi-structured interviews:

members of the academic field and officials

of the regional government

Self-completion questionnaires:

officials of local governments, members of

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officials of local governments, members of

environmental organizations and

associations, building firms and professionals

Analysis and interpretation

of dataSemi-structured interviews:

thematic analysis

Self-completion questionnaires:

statistical analysisFindings /Conclusions

Normative and pragmatic paradigms Normative and pragmatic paradigms of participationof participation

Normative approach defines participation as a democratic right. Indeed, it

represents:

1. a priority of public institutions and government at any level;

2. a statutory right in the Aarhus Convention;

Antecedent

The coexistence of different interests, needs and expectations has entailed a

widespread crisis for regional and urban planning. Participation could represent

the response to handle the dicothomy between State and community.

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2. a statutory right in the Aarhus Convention;

3. a caracteristic of good governance.

Pragmatic approach concerns participation as a means to improve the

decision quality. Within a participatory process, different practical issues should

be considered:

1. in what phase, an inclusive process should begin;

2. identification of participants;

3. definition of a methodology;

4. analisys of power relationships.

The case study of Sardinian RegionalThe case study of Sardinian RegionalLandscape PlanLandscape Plan

Elaboration phase

1. co-planning conferences;

2. participants: local municiapalities, provinces,

organizations and associations relating to

industry, commerce and craft;

3. a plan proposal exists before;

4. Sardinia Territory

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Source: www.homeinsardinia.com

Revision phase

1. Operative and informal meetings called

“landscape workshop”;

2. participants: coastal local municipalities,

provinces and other public authorities;

3. presence of a group of facilitators;

4. Sardinia Territory

5. Sardinia Geoblog

Analysis of data: political and administrative issuesAnalysis of data: political and administrative issues

Elaboration phase

1. Imbalanced power relationships: strong regional government and weak

local municipalities;

2. regional governments aims at establishing its supremacy over the planning

choices;

3. local municipalities conceive the participatory process as external and

fruitless

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Revision phase

1. Absence of a real culture about the participatory practices;

2. incapacity to implement a theoretical methodology in an efficient way;

3. unidirectional dialogue between regional government and local

municipalities;

4. low level of participation owing to a probable distrust towards regional

government.

Analysis of data: management and organizational Analysis of data: management and organizational issuesissues

Identification of participants

It has been absolutely inappropriate in both the elaboration and revision phases

for two reasons:

1. exclusion of some important stakeholders;

2. officials of local municipalities do not represent the community’s interests

and needs in a proper way.

Stage of planning process

The participatory process has been conducted when a strong plan proposal has

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The participatory process has been conducted when a strong plan proposal has

already been elaborated exclusion of some important stakeholders;

Time questions

In the elaboration phase the timing has not been sufficient; meanwhile in the

revision process, it has been excessive.

Financial problems

the regional government has not spent sufficient financial resources to train up

officials of local municipalities, to conduct informative and awareness

campaigns about the plan’s principle and about the reasons of some planning

choices in both elaboration and revision phases

Analysis of data: technical issues concerning tools Analysis of data: technical issues concerning tools and approachesand approaches

Elaboration phase

1. The co-planning conferences have been conducted in very formal way;

2. no real methods or techniques of participation have been used;

3. Sardinia Territory has been a useful informative tool but it has not

guarantee a real participation

Revision phase

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Revision phase

1. The approach has not been really advanced;

2. The tool Geoblog has not been a success due to probable distrust towards

regional government and lack of time;

3. unidirectional dialogue between regional government and local

municipalities;

4. Sardinia Territory has been a useful informative tool but it has not

guarantee a real participation

ConclusionsConclusions

1. Participatory processes have been based on quantitative interests rather

than qualitative value

2. Strong impact of political issues on planning process in the elaboration

phase

3. In the revision phase the political influences seem less significant.

However, this more attention to participation could be ensued by a specific

intent

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intent

4. In the elaboration and revision phases the communication flow has been

one way

5. Understanding problems and needs of local community is a complex task.

For this reason, it is necessary a cooperation between political, technical

and social components.