Medborgardeltagande och dialog i den kommunala planeringen - en fallstudie av området Lanna-Hidinge i Lekebergs kommun

Sammanfattning: The ideals of civic participation are within much of current planning theory regarded as ways of ensuring the democratic and equitable values of planning processes, as well as offering local knowledge to those in power and awarding citizens the influence of being a part of shaping the spaces around them. However, they have also been the subject of much scrutiny; critical assessments of such activities have in many instances asserted that citizens often find their engagement as being reduced to acting as consultative elements or simply receiving information. Much attention has also been paid to the power dynamics of participational or deliberative forums, and the importance of highlighting the structural and influential differences between participating governmental, economic, and civic actors. In Sweden, much critique has in that regard been directed toward the symbolistic tendencies of the institutionalized practices of civic participation as specified by planning legislation, in itself a common tool for municipal governments in their physical planning practices. The purpose of this study is to critically analyse the motivations and undertakings of a municipal government in regard to activities under the guise of civic participation. The study shows that there are a wide range of such initiatives, which can be shown to promote different degrees of participation, as well as influence over the planning processes. This can furthermore be seen as a result of the motives, resources and co-operation of and within the communal municipality.