1. Exploring the role self-organisation in peri-urban transitions
11/30/2018
Exploring the role self-organisation in peri-urban transitions
Ward Rauws

2. 11/30/2018
Aims
Understanding the role of self-organization in changing urban-rural relationships
Deriving conditions under which self-organization occurs

3. Based on…
Comparative research on the development of peri-urban zones in 6 European urban regions
Montpellier (France), Warsaw (Poland), The Hague (NL), Leipzig (Germany), Vienna (Austria), Manchester (GB)
6th framework programme

4. Motive Zone in between the urban and the rural
Important zone for sustainalibity and quality of life in urban regions. (Bocz et al, 2008)
Limited role of planning (Mattingly, 1999)
Intrinsic dynamics (Allen, 2003, Foot, 2000)
Complex System perspective (CS)
Borsdorf (2004)

5. CS perspective on peri-urban area
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CS perspective on peri-urban area
Continuously evolving systems at the edge of order and chaos (Waldrop, 2002)
Multi level drivers
Co-evolution
Path-dependency
Self-organization

6. How do we understand self-organization?
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How do we understand self-organization?
As a part complex system behaviour
A process that gives rise to new structures, patterns and organizations emerging from the interaction between elements or actors without external coordination (Heylighen, 2008).
innovation
Autonomous process
Not to confuse with individual autonomy.
Important to stress is that self-organisation should not be

7. The concept of transition
Adaption process to chancing circumstances
“a set of interconnected changes, which reinforce each other but take place in different area, such as technology, economy, institutions, ecology cultural behaviour and belief systems” (Rotmans & Kemp 2003, p. 9)
A transition is a structural change of a system.

8. Transition in the peri-urban area
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Transition in the peri-urban area
Urban-rural integrated
Urban-rural divide
See Rauws and De Roo, Planning Theory & Practice 2011(2)

9. Concept of transition Dynamics Robustness Relative stability
Concept of transition
Relative stability
Dynamics
Robustness
Relative stability

10. What is the role of self-organisation in transition?
1. Amplyfing system dynamics
Spontanous change
Innovation

11. What is the role of self-organisation in transition?
2. Supporting robustness
S-O gives rise to new structures, patterns and organizations

12. […]
[…]
time
time
[…]
time
De Roo, 2008 12

13. What is the role of self-organisation in transition?
2. Supporting robustness
S-O gives rise to new structures, patterns and organizations
Part of new regime, ordering development of the system
‘Slaving principle (Haken, 1987)

14. 4 examples from practice
Why understood as self-organization?
Spontaneous organization without coordination
Causing innovation
How contribution to a peri-urban transition?
Intensifying urban-rural interaction
Amplifying dynamics
Supporting robustness
What are critical conditions?

15. Argitoursim network Montpellier
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Argitoursim network Montpellier
Wine crisis
Development agritourism activities: rural festivals, donkey rides
Network argitourism

16. Heliotropism in Montpellier
Construction of cottages in peri-urban area
Pleasant climate
+ attractive landscape
Decentralization

17. Urban sprawl Warsaw andLeipzig
Detached housing and shopping malls in surroundings Warsaw and Leipzig
Poor living circumstances
Lack of regulation after 1989

18. Big Five – The Hague Leisure centre at an Old land fill
Based on initiatives of entrepreneurs
Adventure leisure
less strict regulations

20. Critical conditions Conditions: Decline dominate structures
Creativity local actors
Triggering contextual trends

21. Conclusions Self-organization : Evolve at the edge of order and chaos:
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Conclusions
Self-organization :
Evolve at the edge of order and chaos:
contributing to change of function and structure of the system
Self-ordening + self-producing > qualitative change
demand-oriented
Scale depended
Dynamics > innovation, autonomous
Robustness > connecting, structures

22. What can planners learn?
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What can planners learn?
(partly) autonomous processes
Focus on adaptation instead of control
Experimental zones
Carrying structures

23. 11/30/2018
Future challenges
Conducting more detail case study research on the conditions of self-organisation in peri-urban area.
collective
private commissioning (plaatje)

24. 11/30/2018
Future challenges
Enhancing our understanding how self-organization contributes to the shifting balance between robust en dynamic.
Flexible / dynamic competition complementair
Robust cohesion compatible
Complex system

25. 11/30/2018

26. Adaptive strategies Identifying future contextual drivers
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Adaptive strategies
Identifying future contextual drivers
Experimental zones for exploring future paths
Adaptive spatial concepts
Flexible regional management
Dynamics: how to develop more adaptive planning
Fragmented: how to reach coherent spatial structures?
Different places: how to develop common goals and build on collaborative planning efforts?

27. Contact Prof. dr. Gert de Roo g.de.roo@rug.nl Ward Rauws, MsC
11/30/2018
Contact
Prof. dr. Gert de Roo
Ward Rauws, MsC
Faculty of Spatial Sciences
Department of Planning
+31 (0)