Common action: Can grassroots initiatives propel territorial governance in Montenegro?

• Authors: Sonja Dragovic

Abstracts

EN

In recent years, grassroots organising has become important in advocating for the interests of local communities in spatial development processes in the Balkans. Though differing in terms of size, focus, and method, these initiatives seek to articulate dissatisfaction with the existing models of spatial governance, and to imagine, propose, and demand more just and inclusive alternatives. This paper focuses on grassroots activism contesting the top-down model of governing space in Montenegro. Based on a case-study analysis, it traces developments in the forms of organising and degrees of influence of three distinct initiatives, examining what their impact on the development of territorial governance approach may be.

Keywords

EN

spatial development; collective initiatives; planning policy; territorial governance

• Publisher: Uniwersytet Łódzki. Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Łódzkiego
• Journal: European Spatial Research and Policy
• Year: 2021
• Volume: 28
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 83-101

Dates

published

2021

Contributors

author

Sonja Dragovic

• University Institute of Lisbon (ISCTE-IUL), Avenida das Forças Armadas, 1649 – 026 Lisbon, Portugal

• https://orcid.org/0000000288356188

References

• ALIHODŽIĆ, R. and STAMATOVIĆ VUČKOVIĆ, S. (2019), Svetlana Kana Radević: Hotel “Podgorica”, Podgorica, Montenegro, 1967, Piranesi, 41 (27), pp. 18–34.
• ALLMENDINGER, P. (2016), Neoliberal spatial governance, Abingdon: Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315676647
• BAĆA, B. (2017a), ‘«We Are All Beranselo»: Political Subjectivation as an unintended consequence of activist citizenship’, Europe-Asia Studies, 69, pp. 1430–1454. https://doi.org/10.1080/09668136.2017.1388357
• BAĆA, B. (2017b), ‘Civil Society Against the Party-State? The Curious Case of Social Movements in Montenegro’, [in:] MUJANOVIĆ, J. (ed.), Sarajevo, Dialog Südosteuropa.
• Balkan Green Energy News (2020, 03.12.), ‘Nova Vlada Crne Gore će zabraniti male hidroelektrane, pretresti koncesije’, https://balkangreenenergynews.com/rs/nova-vlada-crne-gore-ce-zabraniti-male-hidroelektrane-pretresti-koncesije/ [accessed on: 13.10.2021].
• BIEBER, F. (2020), The rise of authoritarianism in the Western Balkans, Springer Nature. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-22149-2
• ČUKIĆ, I., TIMOTIJEVIĆ, J., STOJIĆ, B., DRAGUSHA, Nj., REXHA, O., DRAGOVIĆ, S. and RAJIĆ, T. (2020), Spaces of Commoning: Urban Commons in the Ex-Yu Region, Belgrade: Institute for Urban Politics.
• DAN (2019a, 21.08.), Žele ekološku Crnu Goru bez siromašnih građana, https://www.dan.co.me/?nivo=3&datum=2019-08-21&rubrika=Drustvo&clanak=709231&najdatum=2019-08-20 [accessed on: 13.10.2021].
• DAN (2019b, 31.12), Političke barijere pale u vodu, Bukovicu sloga građana spasila, https://www.dan.co.me/?nivo=3&rubrika=Regioni&clanak=727764&datum=2019-12-31 [accessed on: 13.10.2021].
• DAVOUDI, S., EVANS, N., GOVERNA, F. and SANTANGELO, M. (2008), ‘Territorial governance in the making. Approaches, methodologies, practices’, Boletín de la Asociación de Geógrafos Españoles, 46, pp. 33–52.
• DOCOMOMO (2015), Hotel Podgorica, https://www.docomomo.com/heritage/threatened/hotel-podgorica [accessed on: 17.01.2022].
• DOMÍNGUEZ, P., KOSTIĆ-MANDIĆ, M. and SEKULOVIĆ, M. (2020), Saving a critical pastureland in Montenegro, Radical Ecological Democracy. https://www.radicalecologicaldemocracy.org/saving-a-critical-pastureland-in-montenegro/ [accessed on: 13.10.2021].
• DRAGOVIĆ, S. (2021), ‘The Volatile Policy Framework of Spatial Planning in Montenegro: Will the Centre Hold?’, [in:] BERISHA, E., COTELLA, G. and SOLLY, A. (eds.), Governing Territorial Development in the Western Balkans, Cham: Springer, pp. 131–151.
• ĐURIĆ, D. (2003), ‘The economic development of Montenegro’, [in:] BIEBER, F. (ed.), Montenegro in transition: Problems of identity and Statehood, Baden-Baden: Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft.
• DŽANKIĆ, J. (2018), ‘Capturing Contested States’, Southeastern Europe, 42 (1), pp. 83–106. https://doi.org/10.1163/18763332-04201005
• EPA – Environmental Protection Agency of Montenegro (2018), Study of the Protection and Establishment of Protected Natural Area Sinjajevina, https://drive.google.com/file/d/1g15XwP0x3fNPBd86fC9eQ_slysa25kk6/view [accessed on: 13.10.2021].
• ESPON (2013), ESPON TANGO – territorial approaches for new governance, Luxemburg: ESPON.
• GALLARDO, B. B., LUKAS, M., STAMM, C. and TORRE, A. (2019), ‘Neoliberalism and territorial governance: Proposals and reflections based on the case of Chile’, Revista De Geografia Norte Grande, 2019 (73), pp. 161–183. https://doi.org/10.4067/S0718-34022019000200161
• GOLUBCHIKOV, O. (2016), ‘The urbanization of transition: ideology and the urban experience’, Eurasian Geography and Economics, 57 (4–5), pp. 607–623. https://doi.org/10.1080/15387216.2016.1248461
• Green Home (2015), Steps towards sustainable development of small hydropower plants in Montenegro, http://balkanfund.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Steps-towards-Sustainable-Development-of-Small-Hydropower-Plants-in-Montenegro-NGO-Green-Home-Montenegro-1.pdf [accessed on: 13.10.2021].
• HARVEY, D. (2004), ‘The «new» imperialism: accumulation by dispossession’, Socialist Register, 40, pp. 63–87.
• JOVIĆEVIĆ, I. (2015), Stop, halt the shots, https://www.sacg.me/stanite-zaustavite-hice/ [accessed on: 13.10.2021].
• KOMAR, O. (2015), ‘The Development of Civil Society in Montenegro’, [in:] FINK-HAFNER, D. (ed.), The Development of Civil Society in the Countries on the territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1980s, pp. 145–165, Ljubljana: Faculty of Social Sciences.
• LAND RIGHTS NOW (2020), Save Sinjajevina Now: statement in solidarity with traditional communities and protection of nature in Montenegro, https://www.landrightsnow.org/save-sinjajevina-now-statement/ [accessed on: 14.10.2021].
• TEMPER, L., AVILA, S., DEL BENE, D. et al., (2020), ‘Movements shaping climate futures: A systematic mapping of protests against fossil fuel and low-carbon energy projects’, Environmental Research Letters, 15, 123004. https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/abc197
• MANS (2017), Energetika u mreži privatnih interesa Đukanovića i njegove partije, http://www.mans.co.me/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/EnergetikaUMreziPrivatnihInteresa.pdf [accessed on: 13.10.2021].
• MANS (2018), MANS upozorava da država ima malo koristi od privatnih hidroelektrana, http://www.mans.co.me/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/OdProdajeStrujeDrzaviNiPola-1.pdf [accessed on: 13.10.2021].
• MAYER, M. and BOUDREAU, J. A. (2012), ‘Social movements in urban politics: trends in research and practice’, [in:] MOSSBERGER, K., CLARKE, S. E. and JOHN, P. (eds.), The Oxford Handbook of Urban Politics, Oxford: Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780195367867.013.0014
• MINISTRY OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, (2008), Spatial Plan of Montenegro until 2020, http://213.136.71.228/apdokument/Dwnld?id=1119 [accessed on: 13.10.2021].
• MINISTRY OF ECONOMY (2006), Small Hydropower Development Strategy, https://fdocuments.net/document/strategija-razvoja-malih-hidroelektrana-u-crnoj-strategija-razvoja-malih-hidroelektrana.html [accessed on: 17.01.2022].
• MONNO, V. (2014), ‘Sustainability and urban democracy: contradictions and hopes emerging from new forms of collective action’, [in:] ABATE, C. (ed.), Conducir las trasformaciones urbana UPE11, 1, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata, pp. 1310–1320.
• MONNO, V. (2016), ‘Activism and urban politics to come: escaping the acceptability trap’, City Territ Archit, 3 (25), pp. 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40410-016-0054-9
• MUDTCEU (2007), Territorial Agenda of the European Union.
• MUDTCEU (2011), The Territorial State and Perspectives of the European Union.
• OECD (2001), OECD territorial outlook, Paris: OECD.
• OLIVEIRA, E. (2016), ‘Territorial governance across Europe: Pathways, practices and prospects’, Regional Studies, 50 (11), pp. 1943–1944. https://doi.org/10.1080/00343404.2016.1187522
• PACARA, E. (2016), ‘Hydropower plants as a protest issue in Albania’, Südosteuropa Mitteilungen, 01, pp. 70–82.
• PARLIAMENT OF MONTENEGRO (2018), The Law on Environmental Impact Assessment. Podgorica, Official Gazette of Montenegro.
• PETITIONS.NET (2015, 27.12.), Stop the construction of tower behind the hotel Podgorica, https://www.petitions.net/stats.php?id=133486&lang=sh [accessed on: 13.10.2021].
• SAFEJOURNALISTS.NET (2021, 11.02), CEDEM: Half of Montenegrin citizens do not trust the media, only one in five believes that they work in the public interest, https://safejournalists.net/istrazivanje-cedem-a-polovina-gradana-crne-gore-nema-povjerenje-u-medije/ [accessed on: 13.10.2021].
• SLOBODNA EVROPA (2013, 15.08.), Will anyone be held accountable for the demolition of the iconic hotel, https://www.slobodnaevropa.org/a/da-li-ce-neko-odgovarati-za-rusenje-kultnog-hotela/25076470.html [accessed on: 13.10.2021].
• SLOBODNA EVROPA (2019, 06.09.), Sinjajevina farmers against cheese “smelling of gunpowder”, https://www.slobodnaevropa.org/a/sinjevina-strelisni-poligon/30150321.html [accessed on: 14.10.2021].
• SLOBODNA EVROPA (2020, 06.08.), The fight against small hydropower plants in Montenegro continues, https://www.slobodnaevropa.org/a/mhe-i-dalje-predmet-konflikta-u-crnoj-gori-/30769905.html [accessed on: 14.10.2021].
• ŠAROVIĆ, R. (2012), ‘Perspektive seoskog domaćinstva i razvoj ruralnog područja u Crnoj Gori’, [in:] VLAHOVIĆ, P. (ed.), Demographic and Population Problems in Montenegro: Society, Family, Youth, Montenegrin Academy of Sciences and Arts, pp. 380–403. https://canupub.me/hg7s
• ŠIMPRAGA, S. (2021), ‘KANA/Who if not architect interview: «We have no other space»’, Vizkultura, https://vizkultura.hr/intervju-kana/ [accessed on: 13.10.2021].
• TULUMELLO, S., COTELLA, G. and OTHENGRAFEN, F. (2020), ‘Spatial planning and territorial governance in Southern Europe between economic crisis and austerity policies’, International Planning Studies, 25 (1), pp. 72–87. https://doi.org/10.1080/13563475.2019.1701422
• UNESCO (2018), Report of the joint World Heritage Centre/IUCN Advisory mission to the World Heritage property “Durmitor National Park”, https://whc.unesco.org/en/documents/174707/ [accessed on: 14.10.2021].
• VIJESTI (2013, 09.02.), This year, five small hydropower plants will become operational, https://www.vijesti.me/vijesti/ekonomija/288085/ove-godine-ce-poceti-da-radi-pet-malih-hidroelektrana [accessed on: 14.10.2021].
• VIJESTI (2015a, 29.12.), Students: Hotel Podgorica should be recognized as cultural heritage, https://www.vijesti.me/vijesti/drustvo/147764/studenti-popili-kafu-hotel-podgorica-proglasiti-za-kulturno-dobro-prvog-reda [accessed on: 13.10.2021].
• VIJESTI (2015b, 16.03.), Austrians not giving Grlja up, https://www.vijesti.me/vijesti/drustvo/190640/austrijanci-ne-odustaju-od-grlje [accessed on: 14.10.2021].
• VIJESTI (2016a, 21.02.), Along the old and ruined streets of Podgorica, https://www.vijesti.me/vijesti/drustvo/139815/ulicama-stare-i-porusene-podgorice [accessed on: 13.10.2021].
• VIJESTI (2016b, 08.01.), Young architects demand inspection’s reaction, https://www.vijesti.me/vijesti/drustvo/146454/mlade-arhitekte-zatrazile-reakciju-inspekcije-stopirajte-radove-kod-podgorice [accessed on: 13.10.2021].
• VIJESTI (2016c, 14.12.), The court overturned the decision, https://www.vijesti.me/vijesti/drustvo/101680/soliter-kod-hotela-podgorica-sud-ponistio-odluku-glavni-grad-tvrdi-da-dozvola-vazi [accessed on: 13.10.2021].
• VIJESTI (2016d, 05.01.), Initiative: protect hotel Podgorica, https://www.vijesti.me/vijesti/drustvo/146927/inicijativa-upucena-miranovic-zastitite-hotel-podgorica [accessed on: 13.10.2021].
• VIJESTI (2018a, 25.11.), There are neither rapids nor fish, the water levels amount to nothing, https://www.vijesti.me/vijesti/drustvo/15956/ni-bukova-ni-ribe-vode-tek-za-punoglavce-ima [accessed on: 14.10.2021].
• VIJESTI (2018b, 17.01.), They are instilling fear in the river guards, https://www.vijesti.me/vijesti/drustvo/47525/cuvarima-rijeke-utjeruju-strah-mjestani-murina-najavili-protest [accessed on: 14.10.2021].
• VIJESTI (2018c, 15.05.), Boskovic: The state needs a training ground on Sinjajevina, https://www.vijesti.me/vijesti/drustvo/32712/boskovic-poligon-na-sinjajevini-treba-drzavi-nije-za-gradnju-nato-baze [accessed on: 14.10.2021].
• VIJESTI (2018d, 9.11.), Boskovic: There will be no NATO base on Sinjajevina, https://www.vijesti.me/vijesti/2538/boskovic-na-sinjajevini-nece-biti-nato-baze-ekoloska-zastita-ce-biti-jaca-i-veca [accessed on: 14.10.2021].
• VIJESTI (2019a, 10.04.), Will explosives endanger the ecological system in Sinjajevina? https://www.vijesti.me/vijesti/drustvo/381337/hoce-li-mine-ugroziti-ekoloski-sistem-na-sinjajevini [accessed on: 14.10.2021].
• VIJESTI (2019b, 29.03.) Defense of Sinjajevina is defense of Montenegro, https://www.vijesti.me/vijesti/drustvo/379848/odbrana-sinjajevine-je-odbrana-crne-gore-od-stetocina [accessed on: 14.10.2021].
• VIJESTI (2019c, 19.05.), The nature is winning the war against weapons, https://www.vijesti.me/vijesti/drustvo/386308/priroda-pobjeduje-u-ratu-protiv-oruzja [accessed on: 14.10.2021].
• VIJESTI (2020a, 04.10.), WWF: Small hydropower plants are inefficient, https://www.vijesti.me/vijesti/drustvo/474609/wwf-mini-hidroelektrane-nisu-efikasne-izgradnjom-njih-svi-gubimo [accessed on: 14.10.2021].
• VIJESTI (2020b, 19.08.), Rakčević: a vote for “Crno na bijelo” is the vote against the destruction of rivers, https://www.vijesti.me/vijesti/politika/461611/vladu-u-cijev-performans-koalicije-crno-na-bijelo [accessed on: 14.10.2021].
• VIJESTI (2020c, 07.10.), Protest at the small hydropower plant Skrbuša, https://www.vijesti.me/vijesti/drustvo/475543/protest-na-mhe-skrbusa-necemo-dozvoliti-nastavak-radova [accessed on: 14.10.2021].
• VIJESTI (2020d, 26.11.), The locals of Bare Kraljske stopped the works, https://www.vijesti.me/vijesti/drustvo/489709/mjestani-kraljskih-bara-i-danas-sprijecili-da-se-radovi-na-mhe-nastave [accessed on: 14.10.2021].
• VIJESTI (2020e, 05.12.), Injac: There will be no military activities on Sinjajevina, https://www.vijesti.me/vijesti/drustvo/492133/injac-na-sinjajevini-nece-biti-nikakvih-vojnih-aktivnosti [accessed on: 14.10.2021].
• VUKIĆEVIĆ, S. (2012). ‘Regionalne karakteristike demografskih kretanja u Crnoj Gori’, [in:] VLAHOVIĆ, P. (ed.), Demographic and Population Problems in Montenegro: Society, Family, Youth, Montenegrin Academy of Sciences and Arts, pp. 423–449, https://canupub.me/hg7s [accessed on: 14.10.2021].
• YUEBO, X., KABO-BAH, A., KABO-BAH, K. and DOMFEH, M. (2018), ‘Hydropower Development – Review of the Successes and Failures in the World’, [in:] KABO-BAH, A. and DIJI, C. J. (eds.), Sustainable Hydropower in West Africa, pp. 53-61, London: Academic Press. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-813016-2.00004-6

Identifiers

DOI

10.18778/1231-1952.28.2.05

Biblioteka Nauki

2033937