Geografie in trasformazione. Processi pianificatori, pratiche partecipative, progetti di territorio

To evaluate the contribution of geography to the territorial project, a significant distinction must be made. Geography, as the scientific analysis of the relationships between places and society, is certainly important in a first exploratory phase, supporting planning analyses. However, does it make sense to also consider geography as a useful discipline for the subsequent design phase and the ‘biographies of territories’? In this field, Italian experiences generally consider different, more technical disciplines to be more useful. Hence a rather banalizing interpretation, that relegates geography to the first levels of the education of young planners and designers. The authors of this chapter believe that social sciences can also play a more active role in decision-making contexts and in advanced planning practices. This is demonstrated by three elements: first, several international experiences see urban planners and geographers equally collaborating in all the steps of the planning process; second, the importance of participatory practices, which urban planners have to take into account by law today, is easily ascribable to the skills of a capable social scientist; third, geography should not limit itself to describing what exists but rather explore territorial changes and innovations and engage the changing world.However, the Italian context still struggles to produce meaningful experiences in this sense. This chapter, therefore, aims to stimulate a reflection on the contributions that geography can provide to the territorial project and to the bioregional discourse, but also intends to suggest to geographers a list of skills that should be cultivated and taught to young planners, so that they can deal more effectively with the dimension of planning design. With this in mind, we will draw inspiration from a personal experience that led to the collaboration of geographers and urban planners for over fifteen years, developing in particular methodological reflections linked to the use of quantitative and qualitative techniques.