Axel Stein

Wissensgesellschaft als Herausforderung für ländlich-periphere Regionen Axel Stein

The heuristics of a three-dimensional knowledge society has been addressed and furtherdeveloped in this volume. The social, economic and technical dimensions are differentiatedand structured in accordance to characteristic manifestations such as individualcompetences, collective learning processes, knowledge as an economic factor, centrality,mobility, or integration in global institutional systems. These structuring elements providethe basis for the choice of in-depth studies in the rural, peripherally located area of northeastGermany with regard to regional growth cores in Brandenburg, health infrastructure,mobility offerings, access to communication technologies, and educational networks andeducational landscapes. Regarding the comparison of theory and practice, of the heuristicmodel and the case studies, the choice of examples is not representative and does notcover the entire diversity and complexity of the knowledge society in rural peripheral areas. However, the case studies do provide an initial picture of how the knowledge societyfinds expression in these areas, the strategic challenges it brings with it, and the role thatspatial planning can play in necessary strategic approaches. The shortage of skilled workers seems to be a central feature of and a challenge for theknowledge society in the rural periphery. The sharp, theoretically founded differentiationmade between the dimensions cannot be sustained in this form in practice. Thus the innovationscharacteristic for the economic dimension are not feasible without social learningprocesses and bridging institutional systems, which are here regarded as part of thetechnical dimension. Furthermore, these processes and systems will only actually function when people and knowledge are mobilised and knowledge networks develop. The peripherally located rural areas are just as much part of the knowledge society asthe metropolitan areas. Both types of area are thus similarly subject to processes of competitionand selection. This constellation gives rise to key challenges for rural peripheralregions that manifest themselves in two complementary strategic approaches: a participatorybasic strategy and a flanking strategy focused on profiling. The contribution of spatial planning to the processes of change related to the knowledgesociety is thus mainly restricted on raising awareness of spatial interrelations, organisingspatial transformation and guiding implementation while ensuring the interests ofthe many different regional actors.
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