Complex systems, evolutionary planning?

Coping with uncertainty is a defining challenge for spatial planners. Accordingly, most spatial planning theories and methods are aimed at reducing uncertainty. However, the question is what should be done when this seems impossible? This chapter proposes an evolutionary interpretation of spatial planning as a way of exploring this challenge. It is based on the notion of spatial systems as complex systems and seeks further inspiration in fields where this thinking has been developed in more detail - most notably evolutionary economics. The main normative implications are the need to find a workable fit between planning innovations and local conditions - because of path-dependence - and the need to enhance the resilience and adaptability of the spatial system - because of unpredictability. An ongoing societal dialogue which covers different views on the means and goals of planning and an experimental attitude towards policies are required to identify appropriate interventions.