IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/taf/rptpxx/v16y2015i4p479-497.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Institutions and the social construction of “missing links” in infrastructure planning

Author

Listed:
  • Jaap G. Rozema

Abstract

In infrastructure planning, the “missing link” metaphor can be deployed to demonstrate the necessity for development. Yet a vexed question is how missing links are socially constructed upon particular norms, values and ideas. In this article institutional theory is used to help investigate the social construction of missing links into policy discourses on infrastructure development, by adopting a relational view towards planning. Through qualitative data appraisal the case of the A4 Delft–Schiedam (A4DS) in the Netherlands is studied to tease out how missing link metaphors, and attendant claims of legitimacy, are embedded into policy discourse. The A4DS proponents are shown to have originally focused on enhanced mobility and economic growth as a result of infrastructure development, but that a new legitimacy was constructed upon the notion of spatial quality. From the case it is concluded that development proponents purposefully utilize norms, values and ideas associated with infrastructure development to the missing link metaphor. The article ends by reflecting on future research challenges and developments in the institutionalist approach to planning.

Suggested Citation

  • Jaap G. Rozema, 2015. "Institutions and the social construction of “missing links” in infrastructure planning," Planning Theory & Practice, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 16(4), pages 479-497, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:rptpxx:v:16:y:2015:i:4:p:479-497
    DOI: 10.1080/14649357.2015.1074717
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1080/14649357.2015.1074717
    Download Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1080/14649357.2015.1074717?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:taf:rptpxx:v:16:y:2015:i:4:p:479-497. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Chris Longhurst (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.tandfonline.com/rptp20 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.