Strategic special planning is undergoing a renaissance in Europe. Stakeholders at all levels-transnational, national and regional - are faced with the challenge of communicating policy principles for sustainable and integrated development to a wide audience of professionals as well as to the public. In communicating the key messages of special strategies, maps can play an important role; in fact the role of maps in helping to explain or illustrate the purpose of policy is a very powerful communication tool.
Stefanie Duhr's book is a unique contribution to the rapidly growing area of teaching and research on European special planning. She discusses the relevant theoretical perspectives on policy-making and process. In doing this, she provides both conceptual and practical tools to help students and practitioners better understand maps and visualizations in strategic special planning.
The book reviews the form, style and use of cartographic representations in strategic special plans in the Netherlands, Germany and England as well as at European level, highlighting significant differences between planning traditions and the impact of these on transnational planning processes. It concludes by discussing the practical implications for future strategic special planning processes in Europe and the best use of cartographic representations to reach agreement and to focus dialogue.

Strategic special planning is undergoing a renaissance in Europe. Stakeholders at all levels-transnational, national and regional - are faced with the challenge of communicating policy principles for sustainable and integrated development to a wide audience of professionals as well as to the public. In communicating the key messages of special strategies, maps can play an important role; in fact the role of maps in helping to explain or illustrate the purpose of policy is a very powerful communication tool.
Stefanie Duhr's book is a unique contribution to the rapidly growing area of teaching and research on European special planning. She discusses the relevant theoretical perspectives on policy-making and process. In doing this, she provides both conceptual and practical tools to help students and practitioners better understand maps and visualizations in strategic special planning.
The book reviews the form, style and use of cartographic representations in strategic special plans in the Netherlands, Germany and England as well as at European level, highlighting significant differences between planning traditions and the impact of these on transnational planning processes. It concludes by discussing the practical implications for future strategic special planning processes in Europe and the best use of cartographic representations to reach agreement and to focus dialogue.