Wachstum, Innovation, Metropolregionen. Zur Rekonstruktion des jüngeren Leitbildwandels in der deutschen Raumentwicklungspolitik

Abstract

This paper explores the background and justification of the process of re-orienting spatial development policies in Germany that occurred at the latest since the 2000s. Two subjects of research are investigated in certain detail: first, it focusses on the “New Guidelines for Spatial Development”, which were released in 2006 by the Conference of State and Federal Ministers responsible for Spatial Development in Germany, particularly Guideline No. 1 “Growth and Innovation”. Second, the category of Metropolitan Regions, which was introduced since the mid-1990s, is being assessed here. Both subjects and the underlying processes are critically discussed from a discourse analysis perspective. This means that research takes into account the ideological contexts within which such issues emerge and are being framed. It is certainly clear that even scientific perspectives on space are by far not independent from individual interpretations. The paper considers both the new guidelines and also the politically designated metropolitan regions as theoretically contradictory, empirically vague and conceptually fragile. Thus, a related claim evolving from our research demands a more pluralistic debate. Moreover, these ideas can also be understood as a contribution to further developing future guidelines for spatial development and thus also the self-conception of spatial policy as such.