Landscapes of Peripherization in North-Eastern Germany's Countryside: New Challenges for Planning Theory and Practice

The countryside of North-Eastern Germany is characterized by declining population size, and this 'shrinking' has severe impacts upon the regional quality of life, land use and infrastructure planning. However, population decrease in these regions is just one symptom of an overall process of peripherization, which needs to be addressed not only in terms of demographic change, but in the context of restructuring global relations and societal change. While debates on coping strategies still focus on technical innovations and the redefinition of planning standards, we suggest the creation of more flexible planning frameworks that leave space for place-adequate, adaptive and participatory solutions.