Operationalizing spatial justice in urban planning: bridging theory with practice

Abstract

This research explores the challenges of using spatial justice as a basis for public policy and urban planning. Philosophical principles of justice are useful for systematic reasoning but lack objective criteria for evaluating spatial justice. We propose a framework based on criteria from social psychology–strict equality, need, merit, and entitlement–to a territorial perspective to determine the most appropriate distribution of amenities. We aim to provide a foundation for policy evaluation and urban interventions based on a selected spatial justice criterion.