The right to shape your backyard: Rehabilitating NIMBYism in urban settings
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2023-06-23
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en
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The phenomenon NIMBYism (which is an acronym for ‘’Not In My Backyard’’) is characterized by NIMBY-claims, which refer to opposition by local residents against proposed implementations of projects or developments in their local environment. This phenomenon causes siting-decisions being protested, delayed or even obstructed by local residents who make such a NIMBY-claim. These protests can cause increased development costs, delayed constructions or developments, and other negative consequences that not only can influence the local environment, but the city as a whole. Some theorists try to rehabilitate NIMBYism by morally legitimizing the actions of NIMBY-claimants. This paper will be argue that although those actions can be legitimized, NIMBYism still perpetuates and causes inequality and polarization. It will be argued that these negative consequences partly stem from the social and economic differences that are underexposed in contemporary urban theory concerning NIMBYism. So, to what extent can NIMBYism be rehabilitated in urban settings, while accounting for the inequality and polarization? To answer this question, the concept of ‘’the right to the city’’ will first be evaluated. This paper will argue that NIMBYism can be seen as a way to claim one’s right to the city. But it will also be argued that the same framework of the right to the city risks to perpetuate more polarizing NIMBY-claims in urban settings. That is why this paper will argue for more deliberative urban planning processes. This is done by evaluating the theory of deliberative democracy. The framework that this theory offers, highlights the importance of well informed and well-reasoned public participatory deliberation in decision-making processes. It will be argued that this deliberative framework could help in creating more inclusive, equal and less polarizing urban-planning processes, that could help rehabilitating NIMBYism in urban settings.
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Faculteit der Managementwetenschappen