Social Justice in Spatial Planning: How Does Bioregionalism Contribute?

Abstract

By influencing the distribution of people and activities in space, spatial planning has social impacts. However, it does not always take into account social justice. This chapter intends to clarify what can be considered socially just planning, in relation to the bioregional approach. In contrast to current planning and development practices, which are often extractive and can exacerbate socio-spatial inequalities, many components of the bioregional approach contribute to more fair and inclusive planning. However, some dimensions of social and spatial justice may be overlooked and need specific attention in the planning process, even within a bioregional approach. In this short essay, we explain the complementary dimensions of social justice, the scientific controversies concerning the way to promote socially just planning, and we ultimately discuss the impact of the bioregional approach on the fairness and inclusiveness of planning practices.