1st Edition
Making European Space Mobility, Power and Territorial Identity
Making European Space explores how future visions of Europe's physical space are being decisively shaped by transnational politics and power struggles, which are being played out in new multi-level arenas of governance across the European Union. At stake are big ideas about mobility and friction, about relations between core and peripheral regions, and about the future Europe's cities and countryside. The book builds a critical narrative of the emergence of a new discourse of Europe as 'monotopia', revealing a very real project to shape European space in line with visions of high speed, frictionless mobility, the transgression of borders, and the creation of city networks. The narrative explores in depth how the particular ideas of mobility and space which underpin this discourse are being constructed in policy making, and reflects on the legitimacy of these policy processes. In particular, it shows how spatial ideas are becoming embedded in the everyday practices of the social and political organisation of space, in ways that make a frictionless Europe seem natural, and part of a common European territorial identity.
Biography
Ole B. Jensen, Tim Richardson
'This is a fine contribution to the literature on European public policy and planning. It develops a critical approach to the European integration project, as this political idea is being translated into conceptions of the spatial organisation of the European territory and into resultant policy initiatives. Grounded in the new relational and multiscalar geography and in recent debates on planning theory, Richardson and Jensen provide a robust analysis of the power dynamics of contemporary European spatial policy initiatives.' - Patsy Healey, University of Newcastle
'Europeanisation is probably a more physical process than many of us realise. Jensen and Richardson show the many different sites at which the new spatiality of Europe is constructed showing the power play at work, and the different 'Europes' that actors seek to impose on others. Indispensable reading for a full understanding of politics in Europe.' - Professor Maarten Hajer, University of Amsterdam
'This book offers painstaking analyses of transnational planning practices.... the book enlightens by laying bare power struggles and alerting us to the complexities and contradictions involved in 'Making European Space'.' - Andreas Faludi, University of Nimegen, The Netherlands
