Abstract
Neoliberal urbanism land planning has led to the development of public–private coalitions associating common interest with lucrative private enterprise projects. In Castilla–La Mancha (Spain), this regional growth coalition was backed by a spatial planning instrument, known as Projects of Special Interest (PSI). The aim of this article is to analyse the PSI as a paradigmatic example, to study its key points and examine its current dimensions. This case study employs a review of the literature, desk research, content analysis, interviews and observation. The PSI scheme has permitted private initiatives and developments, and privately used public constructions of many different types, reducing timeframes through possible recourse to expropriation, using basic measures of land reclassification, undervaluing the ecosystems involved and even facilitating construction in areas that had previously been declared protected, or where resources such as water are not guaranteed. Despite the failure of many of these projects and the expected economic growth not being realised, the instrument has been revived, as it is directly linked to multinational enterprises investing in the region.
Highlights
Short History of Neo-Liberal DevelopmentThe neoliberal regional growth machine is a political alliance of boosters that includes land owners, developers, realtors, banking and insurance companies, construction companies, energy and utility interests, car and truck manufacturers, technical firms and subcontractors in engineering and design fields
As asked by Schmidt and Thatcher [22], are neoliberal ideas so resilient? The aim of this article is (1) to analyse the Projects of Special Interest (PSI) in Castilla–La Mancha as a unique, paradigmatic case study of a neoliberal regional growth machine, or a coalition, where land is put at the service of private interests with public backing
This main aim gives rise to the following research questions: How and why has a spatial planning tool such as the PSIs been used by the regional growth machine? Where have they been used, and what have they been used for? We study the projects that arose as a consequence of administrative discretion, from a leisure complex with housing developments to a casino and golf courses, as well as infrastructures and facilities at the service of private enterprises, from a wind farm to business and technology parks, and even an international airport
Summary
Short History of Neo-Liberal DevelopmentThe neoliberal regional growth machine is a political alliance of boosters that includes land owners, developers, realtors, banking and insurance companies, construction companies, energy and utility interests, car and truck manufacturers, technical firms and subcontractors in engineering and design fields. There is an overriding concern to preserve a good business atmosphere and to make profit from speculative development [24] This process, first underlined by urban sociologists in the United States [25] and applied to cities described as growth machines, highlights an alliance between business groups and politicians [26]. Urban growth machines have been identified as playing a significant role in spatial planning to facilitate and enhance capital accumulation [27]. Under global capitalism, such differing forces as financialisation, institutional capacity, innovative entrepreneurship, the housing sector, consumption, technology and cultural economy play key roles. Among the secondary actors are local politicians, professionals in the media, academics, important personalities, trade unions and small retailers [6]
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