Warum «kooperative Regionalplanung» leicht zu fordern, aber schwer zu praktizieren ist

Cooperation and consensus-building play an important role in the discussion about the further development of society and the state. In planning theory both are seen as requirements for modern regional planning. Cooperative regional planning should orientate its sphere of influence to meet this demand. This means dealing with topics that are inter-sectoral, inter-communal, integrated, and regional. Themes that are especially important are sustainability, regional development and redevelopment, and environmental quality. Under these circumstances the instruments of regional planning dealing with informal cooperation and formal control have to be designed in a way to achieve a high level of synergy. Of main importance is the management of cooperation, because it is not natural that the actors involved, working on their own, will cooperate. This management aim of regional self-control, networklike working together, can assist with effective conflict solving and the mobilization of regional self-help. Regional...