TY - JOUR

T1 - The polarity field concept

T2 - A New Approach for Integrated Regional Planning and Sustainability Processes

AU - Muhar, Andreas

AU - Vilsmaier, Ulli

AU - Freyer, Bernhard

PY - 2006/9/1

Y1 - 2006/9/1

N2 - Regional planning processes are traditionally structured along administrative sectors, where development issues are mostly discussed in disciplinary groups. This often inhibits innovations beyond sectoral limits. In the polarity field approach, the development challenges of a region are identified in a participatory process and grouped according to underlying polarities that form the thematic focus of workgroups. In this process seemingly isolated topics can be placed into a common viewing frame. In Leben 2014, a comprehensive transdisciplinary case study conducted in the Austrian region of Oberpinzgau, Salzburg, six polarity fields (i.e., "wilderness and culture", "single and together", "inside and outside", "tradition and innovation", "fast and slow", "young and old") were identified as thematic frames for structuring the planning process. Working on polarity fields rather than sectoral topics stimulated innovative outcomes, as it brought together actors who had not communicated much before. The polarity field concept seems to be a promising framework in particular for informal planning and sustainability processes at a regional level.

AB - Regional planning processes are traditionally structured along administrative sectors, where development issues are mostly discussed in disciplinary groups. This often inhibits innovations beyond sectoral limits. In the polarity field approach, the development challenges of a region are identified in a participatory process and grouped according to underlying polarities that form the thematic focus of workgroups. In this process seemingly isolated topics can be placed into a common viewing frame. In Leben 2014, a comprehensive transdisciplinary case study conducted in the Austrian region of Oberpinzgau, Salzburg, six polarity fields (i.e., "wilderness and culture", "single and together", "inside and outside", "tradition and innovation", "fast and slow", "young and old") were identified as thematic frames for structuring the planning process. Working on polarity fields rather than sectoral topics stimulated innovative outcomes, as it brought together actors who had not communicated much before. The polarity field concept seems to be a promising framework in particular for informal planning and sustainability processes at a regional level.

KW - Sustainability Science

KW - case study teaching

KW - integrated regional development

KW - Integrated sustainability research

KW - participation

KW - planning methodology

KW - polarity field

KW - Transdisciplinarity

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=33748949117&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.14512/gaia.15.3.16

DO - 10.14512/gaia.15.3.16

M3 - Journal articles

VL - 15

SP - 200

EP - 205

JO - GAIA

JF - GAIA

SN - 0940-5550

IS - 3

ER -