Transforming anatomies of democratic planning: Combining planning-theoretical and legal perspectives on flexible regulation in Finnish land use law

This project brings together planning theory and jurisprudence to examine land use planning especially in the Finnish context. It starts from the recent planning-theoretical discourse where it has been typical to assume that democratisation of planning can be promoted via flexibility in regulation. This assumption has been concretised in Finland, as in many other countries, as creation of such spaces for local discretion that can be opened to local publics. Yet, there are several problems with the assumed connection between democracy and flexible regulation. The study explores empirically this relation, creating also an innovative theoretical framework for assessing this relation in the context of planning law. Finally, it provides suggestions as to how to enhance democracy in planning via flexible regulation. It produces input for the ongoing reform of Finnish Land Use and Building Act (132/1999), while contributing also to international planning and legal theoretical discourses.