Abstract | This contribution traces the ongoing political controversy surrounding 'Stuttgart 21' – one of the largest and most ambitious railway and urban redevelopment projects currently planned in all of Europe. The article provides an up-to-date review of Stuttgart 21's development history and of the mass protests the project has sparked, linking them to key theoretical debates of mega-projects and the context within which they are realized. Particular attention is devoted to 1. understanding Stuttgart 21 as a key exemplar of contemporary mega-project development; 2. analyzing dynamics of participation, politics and power in mega-project planning and implementation; and 3. assessing the wider implications of the mass protests against S21 for planning and policy-making in Germany. |
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