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What Type of Knowledge Rules Where? Legally regulated participation in a large-scale mobile infrastructure planning in Sweden

På svenska

Author

Summary, in English

I investigate the field of tension between the national and the local level in spatial planning from a decision-making perspective. In doing so, I analyse the legal regulation for a large-scale 3G mobile infrastructure development in Sweden with a focus on how participation is expressed both in terms of the ‘law in books’ as well as empirically, ‘in action’. Theoretically, a model of decision making is elaborated, based on two axes: one concerning the decision level on a central or national to local scale, and one concerning what type of knowledge is regarded as the most legitimate in terms of a calculating approach versus a communicative approach. These two issues or approaches to decision making—who decides and based on what knowledge—are of direct importance for understanding the frameworks as well as the practical outcomes of public participation. The case of 3G in Sweden demonstrates how different types of knowledge are perceived as legitimate at different levels in the planning system. For example, appeals against building permits rarely change the outcome of permits issued, and appeals based on fear of electromagnetic radiation are always rejected. The juridification of a given mast conflict meant a development from a deliberative approach, where any concern is heard, to a calculating and expert-based one, where the general stance on a particular topic (such as whether or not the electromagnetic radiation from mobile masts is hazardous) is applied. This means that what knowledge is legitimate depends on where in the permit process it is presented.

Department/s

  • Lund University Internet Institute (LUii)

Publishing year

2014

Language

English

Pages

163-183

Publication/Series

Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy

Volume

32

Issue

1

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Pion Ltd

Topic

  • Work Sciences
  • Information Systems, Social aspects

Keywords

  • UMTS
  • electromagnetic radiation
  • 3G infrastructure
  • law in action
  • law in books
  • communicative
  • calculating
  • public participation
  • spatial planning

Status

Published

Project

  • Law and spatial planning: wind power and 3G infrastructure development

Research group

  • Cybernorms

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 1472-3425