Bookreview: A.Balducci, V. Fedeli & G.Pasqui, Strategic Planning for contemporary Urban Regions. City of Cities: A Project for Milan
Abstract
Regarding Friedman's definition of planning (1987, p.11; p181) "linking knowledge to action" the book represents indeed a combination of well inter-connected theories and practices. It offers an innovative approach to strategic planning with emphasis on the importance of the planning as well as its opportunities and limits.
The reader will find in the book an important insight concerning the current challenges in the Milano urban region, which has troubles with rigid political discourse and governance of the spatial growth of the city. Strategic planning as described in detail through new public policy and models of public actions represents a serious attempt to the discussion of relevance and importance of strategic planning.
The strong idea of putting competitions at the center of the planning process is a fundamental and innovative approach. Instead of imagining the "right" network of actors, the research team tried to promote "action networks" to produce "actors" and "networks" through the competitions, which activate a wider range of actors.