Participatory processes and spatial planning – The Regional Landscape Plan of Sardinia, Italy

We examine the evolution of the concept of participation by underlining its theoretical and technical pros and cons. Moreover, we put in evidence that participatory processes in public decision-making show significant implementation difficulties. On the one hand, public managers and policy makers often emphasize the role of participatory processes as providers of social equity and fair representation of needs and expectations of the local communities. On the other hand, the use of participation by the very same managers and policy makers is often used strategically, in order to move public opinion in the direction theywant. The Sardinian Regional Landscape Plan (RLP) represents an emblematic case of this dichotomy. Our analysis of the participatory processes implemented during the elaboration and revision phases of the RLP highlights that although participation could be utilized as a way to enforce democratic rights, the main goal of the regional administration was legitimation of already-taken decisions concerning the establishment of public policies. As a consequence, planning is subordinated to political constraints and, at the same time, it is shaped by the political system.