Spatial planning goals and values in selected national legal frameworks : a comparative study

Abstract

This article examines the legal foundations of spatial planning through a comparative analysis of twelve countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Canada, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Japan, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Turkey, and Uganda. These countries were selected for their diverse geographic, political, and socio-economic contexts. Despite significant differences, the study finds a notable convergence in how planning goals and values are expressed in law. At the same time, it identifies recurring challenges in implementing these legal provisions, including weak enforcement, institutional fragmentation, and pressures from informal development and private interests. The findings point to a set of shared legal principles that underpin spatial planning across jurisdictions, offering a basis for reflecting on the potential for more universally applicable planning norms.