{"id":11907,"date":"2011-09-19T11:28:57","date_gmt":"2011-09-19T16:28:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/spacingmontreal.ca\/?p=11907"},"modified":"2013-01-21T11:43:36","modified_gmt":"2013-01-21T16:43:36","slug":"the-regionalist-is-regionalism-an-ideology","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/spacing.ca\/montreal\/2011\/09\/19\/the-regionalist-is-regionalism-an-ideology\/","title":{"rendered":"The Regionalist: Is Regionalism an Ideology?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n

\"\"<\/a>
Portrait of Stalin, from Robert Huffstutter (roberthuffstutter on Flickr)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\n

The recent (and current) discussions regarding the MMC\u2019s proposed regional land-use and development plan have exposed (but not addressed) an important issue that underlies the entire debate: is there a theoretical justification for regionalism and if so, what is it?<\/p>\n

Those who oppose regionalism and its manifestations will often try and discredit regional planning efforts by claiming that regionalism is merely and ideology <\/em>\u2013 i.e., a normative view of the world which is not based on fact, but rather on political preference (or social class or something else which cannot be measured objectively).\u00a0 A good example of this is the view expressed by the Mayor of Mirabel, Hubert Meilleur, to the effect that the regional plan (and regional planning more generally) is a conspiracy of the urban elites who want to \u201ccastrate\u201d the development of suburbs and exurbs. No jokes.<\/p>\n

The truth is that regionalism \u2013 defined as an approach to planning\/research which takes the natural or metro region as its focal unit \u2013 sits somewhere between ideology and science. To assert that regionalism is completely devoid of ideology would be delusional \u2013 its forefathers, like Patrick Geddes, Benton MacKaye and Lewis Mumford, certainly had an ideological axe to grind. Moreover, the very idea of regionalism (like that of federalism) cannot be understood separately from its normative dimension: regionalists do not consider the \u201cregion\u201d merely as yet another useful unit of analysis for ecology, social science and planning, they consider it to be the most fundamental unit<\/em>.<\/p>\n

No doubt, this claim is far from objective \u2013 it is not an empirical statement as such, and cannot be \u201cproved\u201d right or wrong. Yet it has strong empirical foundations: ecosystems usually extend across and beyond municipal boundaries, urban settlements rely on their hinterland for food, water and the absorption of pollutants and commuter-sheds are generally regional in scale. The boundaries of eco-regions do not necessarily conform to those of metro regions, but the point is that the region (however defined) matters for ecology and the economy.<\/p>\n

I should point out here that regionalism does not necessarily imply a political stance: to say that \u201cregions matter\u201d is not to militate in favor of regional government or regional redistribution. It is simply a recognition that regional processes affect local and national policies (and plans).<\/p>\n

My own personal take \u2013 based on these observations \u2013 is that regionalism is an ethical stance<\/em> rather than an ideological<\/em> one. Ideology needs not be based on fact, but ethics must confront empirical reality. In short, regionalism states that we cannot \u201ccare for our world\u201d if we do not take the \u201cregion\u201d into account.<\/p>\n

Which raises the question: have we, like Goethe\u2019s Faust in his final throes, given up on \u201ccaring\u201d for the world? If not, then we should become aware of the fact that we are locally and regionally embedded \u2013 whatever we think about city-suburban politics.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The recent (and current) discussions regarding the MMC\u2019s proposed regional land-use and development plan have exposed (but not addressed) an important issue that underlies the entire debate: is there a theoretical justification for regionalism and if so, what is it? Those who oppose regionalism and its manifestations will often try and discredit regional planning effortsContinue reading “The Regionalist: Is Regionalism an Ideology?”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5046,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[7839,7840],"tags":[139,208],"class_list":["post-11907","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-neighbourhoods","category-politics","tag-politics-la-politique","tag-regionalism"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nThe Regionalist: Is Regionalism an Ideology? - Spacing Montreal<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/spacing.ca\/montreal\/2011\/09\/19\/the-regionalist-is-regionalism-an-ideology\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The Regionalist: Is Regionalism an Ideology? - Spacing Montreal\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The recent (and current) discussions regarding the MMC\u2019s proposed regional land-use and development plan have exposed (but not addressed) an important issue that underlies the entire debate: is there a theoretical justification for regionalism and if so, what is it? Those who oppose regionalism and its manifestations will often try and discredit regional planning effortsContinue reading "The Regionalist: Is Regionalism an Ideology?"\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/spacing.ca\/montreal\/2011\/09\/19\/the-regionalist-is-regionalism-an-ideology\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Spacing Montreal\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2011-09-19T16:28:57+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2013-01-21T16:43:36+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"http:\/\/spacing.ca\/network\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2011\/09\/Stalin.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Joel Thibert\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@Spacing\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@Spacing\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Joel Thibert\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"2 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/spacing.ca\/montreal\/2011\/09\/19\/the-regionalist-is-regionalism-an-ideology\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/spacing.ca\/montreal\/2011\/09\/19\/the-regionalist-is-regionalism-an-ideology\/\",\"name\":\"The Regionalist: Is Regionalism an Ideology? - Spacing Montreal\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/spacing.ca\/montreal\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/spacing.ca\/montreal\/2011\/09\/19\/the-regionalist-is-regionalism-an-ideology\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/spacing.ca\/montreal\/2011\/09\/19\/the-regionalist-is-regionalism-an-ideology\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"http:\/\/spacing.ca\/network\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2011\/09\/Stalin.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2011-09-19T16:28:57+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2013-01-21T16:43:36+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/spacing.ca\/montreal\/#\/schema\/person\/5e450354a264b3d4926efca2d8cb3856\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/spacing.ca\/montreal\/2011\/09\/19\/the-regionalist-is-regionalism-an-ideology\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/spacing.ca\/montreal\/2011\/09\/19\/the-regionalist-is-regionalism-an-ideology\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/spacing.ca\/montreal\/2011\/09\/19\/the-regionalist-is-regionalism-an-ideology\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"http:\/\/spacing.ca\/network\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2011\/09\/Stalin.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"http:\/\/spacing.ca\/network\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2011\/09\/Stalin.jpg\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/spacing.ca\/montreal\/2011\/09\/19\/the-regionalist-is-regionalism-an-ideology\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/spacing.ca\/montreal\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"The Regionalist: Is Regionalism an Ideology?\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/spacing.ca\/montreal\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/spacing.ca\/montreal\/\",\"name\":\"Spacing Montreal\",\"description\":\"Canadian Urbanism Uncovered | Montreal Architecture, Urban Design, Public Transit, City Hall, Parks, Walking, Bikes, Streetscape, History, Waterfront, Maps, Public Spaces\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/spacing.ca\/montreal\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/spacing.ca\/montreal\/#\/schema\/person\/5e450354a264b3d4926efca2d8cb3856\",\"name\":\"Joel Thibert\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/spacing.ca\/montreal\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/17420fbbd68989fc5ddf974f87ed84cc?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/17420fbbd68989fc5ddf974f87ed84cc?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Joel Thibert\"},\"description\":\"Joel is an urban planner by profession, specialized in project management and environmental planning, who was most recently working on the Quartier des spectacles project in downtown Montreal. He is particularly interested in ecological governance and the role of cities in sustainable development. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Urban Policy at the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University.\",\"sameAs\":[\"http:\/\/www.walktheregion.com\"],\"url\":\"https:\/\/spacing.ca\/montreal\/author\/joel\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"The Regionalist: Is Regionalism an Ideology? - Spacing Montreal","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/spacing.ca\/montreal\/2011\/09\/19\/the-regionalist-is-regionalism-an-ideology\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"The Regionalist: Is Regionalism an Ideology? - Spacing Montreal","og_description":"The recent (and current) discussions regarding the MMC\u2019s proposed regional land-use and development plan have exposed (but not addressed) an important issue that underlies the entire debate: is there a theoretical justification for regionalism and if so, what is it? Those who oppose regionalism and its manifestations will often try and discredit regional planning effortsContinue reading \"The Regionalist: Is Regionalism an Ideology?\"","og_url":"https:\/\/spacing.ca\/montreal\/2011\/09\/19\/the-regionalist-is-regionalism-an-ideology\/","og_site_name":"Spacing Montreal","article_published_time":"2011-09-19T16:28:57+00:00","article_modified_time":"2013-01-21T16:43:36+00:00","og_image":[{"url":"http:\/\/spacing.ca\/network\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2011\/09\/Stalin.jpg","type":"","width":"","height":""}],"author":"Joel Thibert","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@Spacing","twitter_site":"@Spacing","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Joel Thibert","Est. reading time":"2 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/spacing.ca\/montreal\/2011\/09\/19\/the-regionalist-is-regionalism-an-ideology\/","url":"https:\/\/spacing.ca\/montreal\/2011\/09\/19\/the-regionalist-is-regionalism-an-ideology\/","name":"The Regionalist: Is Regionalism an Ideology? - Spacing Montreal","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/spacing.ca\/montreal\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/spacing.ca\/montreal\/2011\/09\/19\/the-regionalist-is-regionalism-an-ideology\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/spacing.ca\/montreal\/2011\/09\/19\/the-regionalist-is-regionalism-an-ideology\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"http:\/\/spacing.ca\/network\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2011\/09\/Stalin.jpg","datePublished":"2011-09-19T16:28:57+00:00","dateModified":"2013-01-21T16:43:36+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/spacing.ca\/montreal\/#\/schema\/person\/5e450354a264b3d4926efca2d8cb3856"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/spacing.ca\/montreal\/2011\/09\/19\/the-regionalist-is-regionalism-an-ideology\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/spacing.ca\/montreal\/2011\/09\/19\/the-regionalist-is-regionalism-an-ideology\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/spacing.ca\/montreal\/2011\/09\/19\/the-regionalist-is-regionalism-an-ideology\/#primaryimage","url":"http:\/\/spacing.ca\/network\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2011\/09\/Stalin.jpg","contentUrl":"http:\/\/spacing.ca\/network\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2011\/09\/Stalin.jpg"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/spacing.ca\/montreal\/2011\/09\/19\/the-regionalist-is-regionalism-an-ideology\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/spacing.ca\/montreal\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"The Regionalist: Is Regionalism an Ideology?"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/spacing.ca\/montreal\/#website","url":"https:\/\/spacing.ca\/montreal\/","name":"Spacing Montreal","description":"Canadian Urbanism Uncovered | Montreal Architecture, Urban Design, Public Transit, City Hall, Parks, Walking, Bikes, Streetscape, History, Waterfront, Maps, Public Spaces","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/spacing.ca\/montreal\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/spacing.ca\/montreal\/#\/schema\/person\/5e450354a264b3d4926efca2d8cb3856","name":"Joel Thibert","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/spacing.ca\/montreal\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/17420fbbd68989fc5ddf974f87ed84cc?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/17420fbbd68989fc5ddf974f87ed84cc?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Joel Thibert"},"description":"Joel is an urban planner by profession, specialized in project management and environmental planning, who was most recently working on the Quartier des spectacles project in downtown Montreal. He is particularly interested in ecological governance and the role of cities in sustainable development. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Urban Policy at the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University.","sameAs":["http:\/\/www.walktheregion.com"],"url":"https:\/\/spacing.ca\/montreal\/author\/joel\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/spacing.ca\/montreal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11907","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/spacing.ca\/montreal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/spacing.ca\/montreal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/spacing.ca\/montreal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5046"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/spacing.ca\/montreal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11907"}],"version-history":[{"count":61,"href":"https:\/\/spacing.ca\/montreal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11907\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20919,"href":"https:\/\/spacing.ca\/montreal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11907\/revisions\/20919"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/spacing.ca\/montreal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11907"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/spacing.ca\/montreal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11907"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/spacing.ca\/montreal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11907"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}