The New Regionalism:Key Characteristics of an Emerging Movement

This article analyzes the emergence of a “new regionalism” and situates this movement within the historical evolution of regional planning. Key characteristics include (1) a focus on specific territories and spatial planning; (2) a response to the particular problems of the postmodern metropolitan region; (3) a holistic perspective that integrates planning specialties as well as environmental, equity, and economic goals; (4) a renewed emphasis on physical planning, urban design, and sense of place; and (5) a more activist or normative stance on the part of planners. The implementation of new regionalist concepts is likely to come about not through top-down regional government, but through incremental development of social capital, institutions, ad hoc partnerships, and frameworks of incentives and mandates between existing levels of government.