A Future for the European Patchwork
Cohesion through Spatial Planning since 1990
1st Edition
Published on 22. January 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
424 pages
978-3-593-52215-9 (ISBN)
Description
The issue of cohesion and the policies associated with it are concerns not only for supranational entities such as the EU, but also for nation states and regions alike. Traditional instruments for promoting cohesion include symbolic, economic and social policies. However, given the contemporary tensions at both the international and domestic levels, attempts to create or maintain >cohesion< are so important that innovative approaches must be pursued. This book asks to what extent spatial and urban planning, in their claim to be more than just sectoral policies, have contributed to the cohesion of societies over the last 30 years: at European, intergovernmental, national and regional levels - in times of challenging transformations on all spatial levels. The book is therefore divided into three parts, which examine the achievements and shortcomings of cohesion policies in their theoretical assumptions, at national and regional level, and in intergovernmental cooperation. The various contributions show that spatial cohesion policies are significant factors for the cohesion of societies even beyond their borders, but that these have too often not received the recognition they deserve.
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Other editions
Additional editions
Detlef Briesen | Wendelin Strubelt
A Future for the European Patchwork
Cohesion through Spatial Planning since 1990
E-Book
01/2026
1st Edition
Campus Verlag Digital
€55.99
Available for download
Detlef Briesen | Wendelin Strubelt
A Future for the European Patchwork
Cohesion through Spatial Planning since 1990
E-Book
01/2026
1st Edition
Campus Verlag Digital
€55.99
Available for download
Persons
Editor
Detlef Briesen is a social scientist and historian. He teaches at Justus Liebig University Giessen, and at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Hanoi.
Detlef Briesen, PD Dr. phil., ist als Hochschullehrer und -berater an der Universität Gießen und in Südostasien tätig.
ISNI:
ISNI:
Wendelin Strubelt is a social scientist in the field of urban and regional sociology. Before his retirement 2008 he was Vice President and Professor of the Federal Office for Building and Regional Planning.
Wendelin Strubelt, Dr. rer. pol, war Vizepräsident und Professor des Bundesamts für Bauwesen und Raumordnung.
ISNI:
ISNI:
Contributions
Content
Contents
Introduction .........................................................9
Detlef Briesen and Wendelin Strubelt
I. History and Future of Cohesion Policies
Facing Polycrisis: Lessons from Fifty Years of Spatial Planning Practice and Research .............................................................25
Cliff Hague
Territorial Cohesion, the Magic Stick to Unite Europe ....................41 Klaus R. Kunzmann
The EU Territorial Cohesion Policy: A Win-Win or Zero-Sum Game? .......59 Luisa Pedrazzini
European Territorial Development Policy: An Unfinished Project ..........81 Karl Peter Schoen
Visual Reflections and/or Observations about the Space of Europe, its History and Presence .................................................97
Wendelin Strubelt
Facing an Uncertain Future: The Reform of EU Cohesion Policy ...........115 John Bachtler, Carlos Mendez and Ruth Downes
II. Cohesion through Spatial Planning in National Contexts
The Value of Change in Italian Planning .................................137
Maria Prezioso
Public Sector Relocation Outside Paris: Paradoxical Spatial Planning Policy (1950s-2020s) ........................................................165
Guy Baudelle
The B-Side to Brexit? British Policy under the Banner of De-Europeanization ..................................................183
Victoria Grau
Planning for Independence - The Case of Scotland .......................199 Felix Leyendecker
Overcoming Cross-Border Disparities: Planning, Policies and Ideologies in the French-Luxembourg Territory ......................................217
Markus Hesse
III. Cohesion Policy within the Context of European Regions
Economic Resilience in European Regions: Going through Diverse Shocks between 1980 and Present .............................................235
Philipp Gareis
Rur-urban Partnerships for Ecological Transition in Europe beyond Second Tier Cities. ...........................................................255
Joaquin Farinos Dasi
Cohesion at the Margins: Addressing Territorial Inequality in Lazio's Inner Areas ................................................................285
Anna Laura Palazzo, Romina D'Ascanio and Carmen Giannino
Transnational Retirement Migration towards the European Sunbelt. Reflections on Policy and Planning for German Senior Residents on Mallorca .............................................................305
Klaus Friedrich
Dilemmas of Cross-border Cooperation Policy on the Example of Poland ..317 Sylwia Dolzblasz
Transnational Cooperation for a More Spatially Inclusive Development? ...333 Philipp Gareis, Jens Kurnol and Sina Redlich
The Role of Small and Medium-sized Cities in European Union Spatial Planning Context .....................................................351
Eduarda Marques da Costa
Territorial Cohesion and Cross-border Regions, out of Territorialism? .....369 Jean Peyrony
IV. Aspects of Cohesion outside of Europe Regional and Urban Planning in Vietnam: Phases, Challenges and Significance of European Planning Concepts Today ......................387 Nguyen Thi Thuy Hang
Negotiating Post-Colonial Modernity: The Case of Socio-Spatial Transformation in India ...............................................405
N K Kumaresan Raja
In Memory of Patsy Healey ............................................417
About the Authors ....................................................419
Introduction .........................................................9
Detlef Briesen and Wendelin Strubelt
I. History and Future of Cohesion Policies
Facing Polycrisis: Lessons from Fifty Years of Spatial Planning Practice and Research .............................................................25
Cliff Hague
Territorial Cohesion, the Magic Stick to Unite Europe ....................41 Klaus R. Kunzmann
The EU Territorial Cohesion Policy: A Win-Win or Zero-Sum Game? .......59 Luisa Pedrazzini
European Territorial Development Policy: An Unfinished Project ..........81 Karl Peter Schoen
Visual Reflections and/or Observations about the Space of Europe, its History and Presence .................................................97
Wendelin Strubelt
Facing an Uncertain Future: The Reform of EU Cohesion Policy ...........115 John Bachtler, Carlos Mendez and Ruth Downes
II. Cohesion through Spatial Planning in National Contexts
The Value of Change in Italian Planning .................................137
Maria Prezioso
Public Sector Relocation Outside Paris: Paradoxical Spatial Planning Policy (1950s-2020s) ........................................................165
Guy Baudelle
The B-Side to Brexit? British Policy under the Banner of De-Europeanization ..................................................183
Victoria Grau
Planning for Independence - The Case of Scotland .......................199 Felix Leyendecker
Overcoming Cross-Border Disparities: Planning, Policies and Ideologies in the French-Luxembourg Territory ......................................217
Markus Hesse
III. Cohesion Policy within the Context of European Regions
Economic Resilience in European Regions: Going through Diverse Shocks between 1980 and Present .............................................235
Philipp Gareis
Rur-urban Partnerships for Ecological Transition in Europe beyond Second Tier Cities. ...........................................................255
Joaquin Farinos Dasi
Cohesion at the Margins: Addressing Territorial Inequality in Lazio's Inner Areas ................................................................285
Anna Laura Palazzo, Romina D'Ascanio and Carmen Giannino
Transnational Retirement Migration towards the European Sunbelt. Reflections on Policy and Planning for German Senior Residents on Mallorca .............................................................305
Klaus Friedrich
Dilemmas of Cross-border Cooperation Policy on the Example of Poland ..317 Sylwia Dolzblasz
Transnational Cooperation for a More Spatially Inclusive Development? ...333 Philipp Gareis, Jens Kurnol and Sina Redlich
The Role of Small and Medium-sized Cities in European Union Spatial Planning Context .....................................................351
Eduarda Marques da Costa
Territorial Cohesion and Cross-border Regions, out of Territorialism? .....369 Jean Peyrony
IV. Aspects of Cohesion outside of Europe Regional and Urban Planning in Vietnam: Phases, Challenges and Significance of European Planning Concepts Today ......................387 Nguyen Thi Thuy Hang
Negotiating Post-Colonial Modernity: The Case of Socio-Spatial Transformation in India ...............................................405
N K Kumaresan Raja
In Memory of Patsy Healey ............................................417
About the Authors ....................................................419