TY - JOUR
T1 - Strategic planning for city networks
T2 - The emergence of a basque global city?
AU - Meijers, Evert
AU - Hoekstra, Joris
AU - Aguado, Ricardo
PY - 2008/12/9
Y1 - 2008/12/9
N2 - Throughout Europe, policy-makers recognize the development potentials of regions in which multiple cities are located close to each other. However, developing synergies among these cities requires networking to optimize the critical mass and exploit complementarities. Much is expected of spatial planning in terms of fostering networks. However, little is known about the actual contribution planning may have in developing city networks, in particular, since it involves planning on a new scale and based upon new starting points and objectives. Exemplary is the territorial development strategy (1990s) of the Basque country aimed at developing the networking among its three main cities (Bilbao, San Sebastian and Vitoria) to develop a Basque 'Global City'. We find that the leverage of this planning strategy has been poor, due to strong local identities and the lack of regional organizing capacity. This also appears to be common for other polycentric regions.
AB - Throughout Europe, policy-makers recognize the development potentials of regions in which multiple cities are located close to each other. However, developing synergies among these cities requires networking to optimize the critical mass and exploit complementarities. Much is expected of spatial planning in terms of fostering networks. However, little is known about the actual contribution planning may have in developing city networks, in particular, since it involves planning on a new scale and based upon new starting points and objectives. Exemplary is the territorial development strategy (1990s) of the Basque country aimed at developing the networking among its three main cities (Bilbao, San Sebastian and Vitoria) to develop a Basque 'Global City'. We find that the leverage of this planning strategy has been poor, due to strong local identities and the lack of regional organizing capacity. This also appears to be common for other polycentric regions.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=57149085704&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/13563470802521440
DO - 10.1080/13563470802521440
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:57149085704
SN - 1356-3475
VL - 13
SP - 239
EP - 259
JO - International Planning Studies
JF - International Planning Studies
IS - 3
ER -