Professional regulation in the field of spatial planning in Portugal – the case of SAR

Abstract

The field of spatial planning has seen a significant boost in recent decades in Portugal. Different occupations had earlier competed for the control of this market, exploiting a lack of regulation. In 2006, the then Planning Junior minister introduced a registration system for the coordinators of territorial management instruments, the SAR, bringing together all interested professional groups. However, a ministerial reshuffling in 2009 led to the halting of the concertation process, leaving once again room for professional dispute. This paper presents this case of professional regulation, highlighting the role of the state and the challenges of the professionalization of multidisciplinary knowledge.