Utopia-likeness that utilises the energy of true utopias activates regional development
In polyphonic regional development, it is preferrable to use utopianism as a means of challenging traditional ways of thinking rather than as design aiming for perfection
Reports and ProceedingsIMAGE: MIKKO KARHU view more
CREDIT: RIIKKA KALMI, UNIVERSITY OF VAASA
Utopia literally means an imaginary ideal place that in principle can never be realised. However, in practical regional development, utopia-likeness is needed, because it promotes, involves and inspires social reforms, says Mikko Karhu, Licentiate of Administrative Sciences, who is defending his doctoral dissertation at the University of Vaasa on 22 April.
Mikko Karhu’s doctoral dissertation examines the interpretation and uses of utopias in regional development. Classics of utopian and dystopian literature, such as T. More’s Utopia, A. Huxley’s Brave New World and G. Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four were used as material in the dissertation, alongside expert interviews in regional development.
Regional development includes both true utopias and utopia-likeness. Both emanate from people’s need to dream of something better. Today, regions are being developed in a pluralistic and practical manner. Implementing large-scale idealism has become difficult. It has been overtaken by more practical utopia-likeness.
Utopia-likeness is idealisation included in development and control. It involves state authorities, local government organisations, businesses, organisations, residents or other operators participating in regional development conveying a desirable or avoidable vision of the future for the region.
– Utopia-like discourse may come across as strongly reliant on the ideal future. This is a good thing when various parties are encouraged to participate in the implementation of shared goals, says Karhu.
According to Karhu, visions of the future and even institutions include utopia-likeness.
– Space settlement and other ultra-futuristic visions will not be feasible for a long time on the scale that technological utopians claim. On the other hand, the ideological idea of established institutions, such as national states, of a united nation that shares the same values and goals can never be fully realised either, says Karhu.
Despite their dangers, true utopias fascinate
As a contrast to utopia-likeness, ideal utopias and ideological utopias are considered true utopias. Ideal utopia is a fictional place detached from reality that is described in utopian and dystopian literature.
Ideological utopia is an implicit and often enforced pursuit of an ideology. Ideology utopias aim at large-scale, even totalitarian changes that can lead to a great deal of misery. The current restriction of the freedom of speech and the sovereignty of the ruler in Russia bear a strikingly close resemblance to the Ministry of Truth, Thought Police and Big Brother in Orwell’s novel.
According to Mikko Karhu, true utopias will never fully disappear from regional development. Ideal utopias may be useful when speculating about distant futures and also in innovation processes. On the other hand, an unquestioned operating model enforced from above, such as blind belief in artificial intelligence or continuous economic growth as a guarantor of happiness, can be concerning if it grows into an ideological utopia.
– In polyphonic regional development, it is preferrable to use utopianism as a means of challenging traditional ways of thinking rather than as design aiming for perfection, Karhu says.
Doctoral dissertation
Karhu, Mikko (2022) Utopiat ja utopiankaltaisuus aluekehittämisessä. Acta Wasaensia 483. Väitöskirja /Doctoral dissertation. Vaasan yliopisto / University of Vaasa.
Publication pdf: https://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-952-395-016-0
Public defence
The public examination of Lic.Sc.(admin.) Mikko Karhu’s doctoral dissertation in Regional Science "Utopiat ja utopiankaltaisuus aluekehittämisessä" will be held on Friday 22.4.2022 at noon at the University of Vaasa in Tritonia building, Auditorium Nissi.
Doc., PhD Päivi Rannila (Tampere University) will act as an opponent and University Lecturer, PhD Ilkka Luoto as custos. The defence will be held in Finnish.
Utopias and utopia-likeness in regional development
Bear, Mikko (2022-04-12)
https://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-952-395-016-0
Description
The post-structural research consists of an article on the topic, two articles on the classics of utopia and dystopian literature, and two articles on the municipal topics of the future. The starting point for the work is the traditional definition of utopia as an idealized place. Articles on literature and interview material are examined using a model that parses utopias and theories about the functions and speech patterns of utopia. The data is analysed by interpreting the universal development themes derived from utopia and dystopian literature as utopia species, as well as the ways experts speak about the regions and the municipality of the future.
Based on the data, five utopia species were discovered. The real utopias are ideal utopias and nobility utopias. In addition, utopia-like radical imagining, institutional utopianism and discourse utopia were identified as utopian species. The ideal utopias of utopia and dystopian literature and the discourse utopias of regional development speech patterns are reflected in the development of regions as alternative interpretations of places and their meanings. Utopias are instruments of hope, criticism and change that are also suitable for persuasion. Ideal utopia represents an imagined detachment from realities that fits creative thinking, representing the desired or avoidable outcome of development. Utopias bring alternatives to social debate. Extensive and influential activities can include features of nobility. Radical imagery, institutional utopianism and discourse utopias are not real utopias, but are reflected in the objectives of regional communities, regional organisations and organisations in their various forms. Radical imagery perceives bold possibilities for the distant future. Institutional utopianism meaningfuls communality with idealistic traits. Discourse utopias can be used to play down development ideas, but also to promote them and multi-voiced debate. This doctoral thesis combines regional studies and utopian studies by exploring interpretations and uses of the idea of utopia in regional development. The most well-known definition of utopia as an idealized place was selected as a starting point. By examining the classics of utopian and dystopian literature, alongside discourses on regional development policy, the study clarifies the role of utopias in today's society that is characterized by polyphony. Traits of utopias and utopia-likeness in regional development are examined.
The approach of the study is based on post-structuralism. The study consists of a summary and five articles. One article introduces the utopian perspective on regional development policy. Two articles explore the classics of utopian and dystopian literature. The other two articles deal with discourses on future municipalities based on the analysis of data gathered via themed interviews. The data are scrutinized through models and theories categorizing utopias and explaining their functionality and discursive nature. Research material is also analyzed by interpreting universal themes related to development theories and ideas derived from utopian and dystopian literature. The themes are finally defined as utopia types.
Five types of utopias were defined and the following labels applied: 1) ideal utopias and 2) ideology utopias were categorized as true utopias. 3) Radical imagination, 4) institutional utopia-likeness, and 5) discourse utopia were categorized under utopia-likeness. Ideal utopias represented in utopian and dystopian literature, and also discourse utopias, emerge in developing regions, expressing alternative interpretations on places and their meaning. Utopias are tools for hope, critiques, change activators, persuasions, and alternatives. Ideal utopias break away from reality and are intellectual tools to spur creative thinking by visualizing wished for and feared outcomes. Ideology utopias are involved in large-scale and influential activity. They are manifest in the ambitions of regional communities and organizations. Radical imagination explores the possibilities of a far distant future. Institutional utopia-likeness gives functionality and meaning to the community. Finally, discourse utopias are used to both undermine and promote ideas of development and inclusive discussions.
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