The geographies of the "development" rhetoric: An ethical critique of land transformation in transitioning societies – lessons from Albania and Kosovo

Hanxhari, Orjana and Hanxhari, Romeo and Nikolli, Pal and Oosterbeek, Luiz (2027) The geographies of the "development" rhetoric: An ethical critique of land transformation in transitioning societies – lessons from Albania and Kosovo. MODERN GEOGRÁFIA, 22 (1). pp. 87-108. ISSN 2062-1655 (In Press)

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Abstract

The term ”development” is ubiquitously used in urban planning discourse to describe land transformation for new construction, implying progress and modernization. Its uncritical application, often rooted in anthropocentric assumptions that treat non-anthropized areas as ”value-less land”, frequently conceals environmental degradation, social displacement, and uneven benefit distribution. This paper offers a geographical and environmental-ethical critique of the rhetoric of “development”, examining its semantic, legal, and practical implications for land transformation in transitioning societies. Drawing on empirical evidence from Albania and Kosovo and situating the argument within the broader development-critique literature (e.g., Mittelmann, 2018), the study analyzes spatial planning legislation (Albania: Law No. 107/2014; Kosovo: Law No. 2003/14, amended in 2008) to show how legal language and prevailing discourse shape spatial outcomes. The findings reveal a persistent tension between aspirational legal principles (sustainability, social equity, and the protection of natural and cultural heritage) and practical definitions that equate development with construction. The paper argues for more precise, geographically informed terminology and planning practices rooted in environmental ethics—prioritizing brownfield redevelopment, ecosystem-services valuation, participatory governance, and land-value capture mechanisms—to better align spatial practice with intergenerational equity, environmental justice, and sustainable territorial stewardship in post-communist transition contexts.

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