Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
CHAPTER 5
THE USE OF CARTOGRAPHIC REPRESENTATIONS IN
THE PREPARATION OF THE EUROPEAN SPATIAL
DEVELOPMENT PERSPECTIVE
This chapter examines the use of cartographic representations in the most notable
example of transnational co-operation on European spatial planning to date: the Euro-
pean Spatial Development Perspective (ESDP). The ESDP was prepared by the
Committee on Spatial Development (CSD), an informal intergovernmental meeting of
senior officials from the member states and the European Commission (DG Regio)
and adopted in 1999.
1
In parallel to this intergovernmental work, spatial development
studies, such as
Europe 2000
and
Europe 2000
(CEC, 1991, 1994) were under-
taken by the European Commission, which provided a more 'European' perspective
on spatial development and proved to be an important reference for European spatial
planning initiatives such as the Community Initiative Interreg.
The development of the ESDP has been well documented by Faludi and
Waterhout (2002), and the power struggles over maps in the process have been
investigated by Jensen and Richardson (2004). In this chapter, particular attention
will be given to the question of how cartographic representations are constructed
in transnational spatial policy processes, and how they are used to communicate
spatial policy. In doing so, the analysis will draw on the framework provided by
John Forester (1989) on power imbalances in planning processes (see Figure 2.1).
In addition, there are a number of aspects directly relevant to the analysis of the
'cartographic outputs'. These will be investigated by analysing the graphical and
linguistic structures of the illustrations according to the dimensions set out in the
conceptual framework in Boxes 4.1 and 4.2. The identification of distortions in
communication through 'maps' that were produced in the ESDP process might
help to avoid similar problems in future transnational co-operation processes. This
can help to make best use of spatial images in supporting European planners to
work across their differences in the understanding of planning.
THE USE OF CARTOGRAPHIC REPRESENTATIONS IN
PLANNING PROCESSES: POWER AND DISTORTION IN
COMMUNICATION THROUGH CARTOGRAPHIC
REPRESENTATIONS
The literature reviewed in Chapters 2 and 3 suggests that cartographic representa-
tions are powerful tools and may be used to manipulate or lead the discussion in a
