Maalikeskeinen

Maalikeskeinen is a Finnish term used to describe a perspective or approach that centers on land, soil, and landscape rather than on people, technology, or abstract abstractions. The word combines maa, meaning land or earth, with keskeinen, meaning central or core, conveying the idea of the land as the focal point of analysis or decision-making.

Usage and scope

The term is not a standardized technical jargon but appears in academic and public discourse to contrast with more anthropocentric or technology-driven viewpoints. Maalikeskeinen approaches are discussed in geography, environmental planning, landscape architecture, agronomy, and ecological disciplines, where the physical characteristics of the land, ecological constraints, and spatial context guide analysis and planning.

Applications

In land-use planning, a maalikeskeinen approach prioritizes soil quality, watershed boundaries, biodiversity corridors, and long-term ecological sustainability over short-term economic gains. In ecology and landscape ecology, it emphasizes processes and interactions at the landscape scale rather than isolated, site-specific factors. In discussions of cultural heritage and community planning, it can foreground the relationship between people and the physical environment, including traditions tied to land.

Relation to other concepts

Maalikeskeinen is often contrasted with ihmiskeskeinen (human-centered) and teknologiakeskeinen (technology-centered) perspectives. It is typically used as a descriptive or normative term to highlight the importance of physical context, while not excluding human needs when integrated thoughtfully.

See also

Human-centered design; geography; landscape ecology; environmental planning.