Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
CHAPTER 1
EUROPEAN SPATIAL DEVELOPMENT AND
CARTOGRAPHIC REPRESENTATIONS
CARTOGRAPHIC REPRESENTATIONS IN SPATIAL PLANNING
IN EUROPE
The conceptualisation of the territory through spatial images is an integral part of
spatial planning. In most traditions of spatial planning
1
in Europe, planning policy
documents involve a symbolic representation of the territory in the form of icons,
diagrams and maps. The illustration of spatial policy options through maps and
other cartographic representations
2
can be very powerful both in the planning
process and in communicating the key messages of planning strategies. Drawn
images are used to support verbal statements of policies, or they directly express
policies (Faludi, 1996a), and through their communicative power and clarity might
'contribute more to achieving certain political goals than legal and financial instru-
ments' (Kunzmann, 1996: 144).
During the planning process, communicating policy objectives through policy
maps can help to reach agreement by revealing different parties' priorities for
spatial strategies for the territory. They are furthermore said to assist in mediating
conflicting interests (Healey
et al.
, 1997), setting agendas and shaping attention
(Forester, 1989), and can help to incorporate different viewpoints (Robbins, 1997).
Cartographic representations can help to focus dialogue and to shape discourses,
but they may also be used to manipulate other participants in the process by dis-
torting or highlighting certain facts (Pickles, 1992; Neuman, 1996, 2000). Setting
up a certain form of discourse through visualisation as the central instrument of
communicative interactions sets limits, defines agendas, and creates social hier-
archies. Thus, the illustration of spatial policies can act as an instrument of cultural
power (Robbins, 1997). The decision on what should be 'put on the map', and
how it is going to be presented, opens up great potential to shape discourse, to
empower some parts of the public or the territory, and to disadvantage others. The
product of the planning process - the final key diagram or policy map - again can
help to raise awareness of the planning strategy and the policy objectives. As a
product, cartographic representations can help to shape attention for relevant
spatial issues, to communicate messages and to stimulate action at lower tiers of
government, or within the private sector.
There are examples of cartographic illustrations, notably the metaphor of the
'Blue Banana' (Reclus, 1989) (see Figure 1.1), that have been very successful in
