Informal democracy in Patras, Greece: A mechanism for improved planning?

• Published in: Cities 2018-04, Vol.74, p.334-342
• Main Authors: Papamichail, Theodora, Perić, Ana
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Central government; Communicative rationality; Democracy; Greece; Implementation; Informal planning; Nepotism; Networks; Patronage; Planning; Rationality; Real estate; Self financing; Test planning method; Transportation
• ISSN: 0264-2751; 1873-6084
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cities.2017.12.023

Greek spatial planning reality faces the problems like sprawl and illegal settlements outside the building zones, underpinned by the conventional self-financed real estate development model under the patronage of the national government. In case of transportation congestion problems, the formal planning proved to be even more ineffective and unpopular. Therefore, non-institutionalized supplement to formal planning is considered highly effective: informal planning relies upon the principles of collaborative dialogue, networks and trustful relationships among the relevant players. The article describes the informal planning procedure – the test planning method – analyzed against the theoretical background of communicative rationality, on the one hand, and critically assessed through the practical implementation in the case of Peloponnesian city of Patras on the other. As a result, the article highlights the successful phases of the test planning, nevertheless pointing to its shortcomings, which could be expected in the societies with a dominant political cronyism. •Effective coordination makes the core of informal planning procedures.•Communicative rationality principles coincide with a nature of informal planning.•Informal planning affects a long-term process of the planning culture change.