Sociology and Space, No. 35-36, 1972.
Original scientific paper
Social Conflicts and Spatial Planning
Slavko Dakić
Fedor Kritovac
Zorislav Perković
Abstract
Planning depends in a great measure on the relations between the main participants
— the administration, experts (planners) and citizens. A stable and directed
development of the environment requires all stages of the planning process to
be represented: investigation, laying down the objectives, planning, decision making,
projects, realization, and permanent control.
As regards planning the interests of individuals are manifested mainly in a
negative way: as resistance to the plan, or as non-adherence to its postulates. The social groups which exercise their influence are, in some cases, ’classic’ social
classes or strata, in others they consist of different groups of interest (age groups,
pedestrians, drivers, immigrants, etc.)- Planning gives privileged treatment to those
who are better off or better educated and who act in an organized manner. The
general social interest is often difficult to define, but once it is defined it has great
possibilities to come to expression.
In the realization of a general interest there emerge conflict between different
objectives, e. g. between economic development and the quality of living,
between rational organization and freedom of choice, between productive and communal
investments. Contrasts also emerge between local, national and general
human objectives. Planning is often hampered by major conflicts between shortterm
and long-term objectives.
Various forms of misunderstanding and conflict emerge between the three
basic groups of participants in planning (administration, experts and citizens);
however, they also exist within those groups themselves, and can be overcome
only partially.
11 conflicting situations in society are to be settled by planning, it is indispensable
first to correct and supplement the existing criteria of social values and
overcome the existing gap between those responsible for decision making and the
real social interests.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
119630
URI
Publication date:
9.6.1972.
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