How Planning Theory Informs Planning Practice

2019 ◽  
pp. 132-156
Author(s):  
Charles Hoch
Keyword(s):  
Planning Theory ◽  
Planning Practice

A Materialist Basis for Planning Theory and Practice: Comments on the Papers by Roweis and by Forester

1983 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
pp. 469-479 ◽  
Author(s):  
C Jensen-Butler
Keyword(s):  
Social Practice ◽  
Scientific Explanation ◽  
Qualitative Change ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Planning Theory ◽  
Rational Approach ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Planning Practice ◽  
Base Analysis ◽  
Epistemological Position

Analysis of the practice of planning is increasingly being used to develop planning theory, The papers by Roweis and Forester in the second issue of Environment and Planning D: Society and Space base analysis of planning practice on hermeneutic, linguistic, and phenomenological approaches, as an alternative to the technical -rational approach to planning theory, In the present paper, I argue that the approaches adopted by these two authors create more problems than they solve, and a critique of Roweis's and Forester's theoretical ideas is made, It is argued that these approaches rest upon idealist ontological assumptions, rendering explanation of qualitative change (development) impossible. Discussion of Giddens's concept of structuration and of the negative consequences for scientific explanation of Habermas's epistemological position is presented, as both approaches are used by Roweis and Forester. Criticism is also made of the separation of territorial relations from relations of substance. Finally, the serious consequences of their approaches for scientific and social practice are outlined. I conclude that this type of approach cannot provide a satisfactory basis for planning theory, and furthermore, that the approach is inherently conservative. Some ideas arc presented concerning planning theory based on materialist ontological foundations.

scholarly journals Planning to care: the case for a broader implementation of therapeutic planning

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
David M. Alton
Keyword(s):  
Urban Planning ◽  
Key Words ◽  
Indigenous Communities ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Planning Theory ◽  
Planning Practice ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Relationship

Planning does not see itself as a caring profession, yet there are elements of care that underlie the relationship between planners and the public. Therapeutic planning is an emerging approach to planning that has shown promise at building on those elements of care and reimagining planning as healing and transformative for planners and the public. However, therapeutic planning has so far only been used as a specialized practice when planning with indigenous communities. Through an analysis of the literature on planning theory and therapeutic planning practice, this study seeks to build a case for a broader application of therapeutic planning. Key findings of this analysis show that therapeutic planning has the capacity to improve planners’ ability to address trauma, conflict and reconciliation. This ends with a concrete set of recommendations to guide the profession in embracing its potential for care. Key words: An article on urban planning theory and practice, used the key words: therapeutic; planning; caring; communication; profession.

scholarly journals Justice and the planning process: how far have we come and where are we going?

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca Augustyn
Keyword(s):  
Planning Process ◽  
Institutional Context ◽  
Planning Theory ◽  
Planning Practice ◽  
Theories Of Justice ◽  
Practice Gap ◽  
Context Dependent ◽  
The Law ◽  
Theory Practice Gap ◽  
Regent Park

Justice is a context-dependent, multi-faceted concept that has historically been associated with planning theory. In this paper, the literature surrounding the concept of justice will be explored to understand where the concept of justice has come from, how it has evolved, and how it can be applied to the planning process. In addition, how justice interacts with other critical concepts, such as the law, morality, and ethics, as well as its ability to function within the institutional context will also be assessed. The concept of justice is be applied to the planning process as it occurs in planning practice in an attempt to bridge the theory-practice gap that exists in planning. Using Fainstein’s concept of justice, with her three criteria of equity, diversity, and democracy, the planning process of the two redevelopments of Regent Park is assessed through the lens of justice in an attempt to apply theories of justice to planning practice.

“Planning” or e-Planning?

2014 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ernest R. Alexander
Keyword(s):  
Strategic Planning ◽  
Spatial Planning ◽  
Institutional Environment ◽  
Planning Theory ◽  
Planning Practice ◽  
Social Purpose ◽  
Construction Of Knowledge ◽  
Usable Knowledge

Planning theory is hardly relevant for E-Planning, because generic “planning” does not exist for practical purposes, except as distinct planning practices. E-Planning is such a practice, with implications for E-Planning theory, education and practice. Defining planning as “what planners do” makes planning a socially recognized practice; for such practices “planning” always has a qualifyer: urban-, environmental- or strategic planning. Meaningful discussion of planning demands contingent referents not abstract generalizations. Diverse planning practices are identifyable on several dimensions: sector, level or domain, and country. With various actors and blends of usable knowledge, planning practices contribute expertise to the co-construction of knowledge. The case for E-Planning follows the prototype of spatial planning, including tools: knowledge that E-planners contribute; practice: the E-Planner's role and social purpose; and context: E-planners' workplaces and their institutional environment. Evidence of institutionalization (including the IJEPR) confirms that E-Planning is a real planning practice, with E-Planning theory in development and awaiting integration.

scholarly journals Operationalizing the public interest in the local planning context of Serbia

Spatium ◽  
2017 ◽  
pp. 10-17
Author(s):  
Natasa Colic
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Public Interest ◽  
Planning Theory ◽  
Local Context ◽  
Economic Aspects ◽  
Local Planning ◽  
Planning Practice ◽  
The Public ◽  
Planning Framework

The concept of the public interest has often been revisited within theoretical debates related to the fields of politics, decision making, and planning. While it has been claimed that the public interest should serve as one of the main pillars for decision-making, various authors reject the possibility of its operationalization, describing it as a vague criterion for any empirical analysis. With that in mind, the main aim of this paper is to present the role of the public interest and its long lasting tradition in Serbian planning practice from socialism until today, as well as its operational dimensions in relation to the specific post-socialist planning context. This paper will first briefly discuss the nature of the public interest concept in relation to planning. It will go on to present some of the socio-economic aspects of Serbian socialist and post-socialist planning practice, so as to better understand the local context in which the public interest is framed. Finally, it will propose the dimensions of planning practice in which the public interest is articulated. The findings were derived from the analysis of the role of the public interest in planning theory, planning practice, and the Serbian legal planning framework.

City-stories: Narrative as diagnostic and strategic resource in Ciudad del Este, Paraguay

2016 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 74-98 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Tucker
Keyword(s):  
Local State ◽  
Urban Transformation ◽  
Planning Theory ◽  
Ethnographic Research ◽  
Planning Practice ◽  
Street Vendors ◽  
Use Of Space ◽  
Everyday Practices ◽  
Governance Practice ◽  
The City

Too often, planning theory misidentifies how planning and governance practice actually works in troublesome zones understood as unplanned or ungoverned. To counter this tendency, I use ethnographic research in one of the most active border economies in the hemisphere, where noncompliance with trade and use-of-space laws is widespread. In contrast to the commonly held assessment that Ciudad del Este, Paraguay is lawless and unplanned, I show how planners promote elite-led and exclusionary urban transformation via the strategic deployment of narratives of the unplanned city, what I call “city-stories.” However, city-stories are also a terrain of contestation. I analyze the city-stories of precarious street vendors as a diagnostic of power, as embodied perspectives on everyday practices of regulation that can clarify how local state actors actively foster spatial disorder and legal uncertainty as part of planning practice.

Spatial Planning as a Design Discipline: A Paradigm for Western Europe?

10.1068/b2633 ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 437-453 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barrie Needham
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Planning ◽  
Western Europe ◽  
Strong Influence ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Planning Theory ◽  
Planning Practice ◽  
Planning Education ◽  
Long Time ◽  
The Relationship

There is an implicit paradigm in the theory of spatial planning, which we call “spatial planning as a design discipline”. It is implicit in much of planning theory, and the exposition here is in many respects an ordering of ideas from planning theory which have been in circulation for many years. I will make them explicit and relate them to each other in order to lay bare the underlying assumptions, to help planning education, and to improve the relationship between theory and practice. Such an ordering of existing ideas inevitably looks backwards, so I will also investigate how the paradigm presented here relates to some recent innovations in planning theory. Because many of the ideas have been in good currency for a long time, it is probable that they have had a strong influence on planning practice in much of Western Europe: there is not just a paradigm shared by academics but also a discourse shared by academics and practitioners.

Urban Planning as Professional Mediation of Territorial Politics

1983 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 139-162 ◽  
Author(s):  
S T Roweis
Keyword(s):  
North America ◽  
Urban Planning ◽  
Planning Theory ◽  
Planning Practice ◽  
Territorial Politics ◽  
Salient Features ◽  
Sociohistorical Context

This paper proposes an alternative way of looking at urban planning practice in contemporary North America. The discussion is organized into four major sections. Section 2 follows a brief introduction and contains a partial critique of ‘mainstream’ planning theory. The critique serves as a basis for developing and explicitly stating three presuppositions which underpin the rest of the paper. Section 3 discusses basic relationships between politics, professionalism, and the process of land occupancy. The attempt here is to conceptualize some salient features of the sociohistorical context of urban planning practice. Having sketched this context, I develop and discuss in section 4 a set of propositions regarding the nature and distinctiveness of urban planning as an occupation, the requisite competencies this distinctiveness calls for, and the role(s) of urban planning in contemporary North America. The paper concludes with a brief discussion, in section 5, of the preconditions for, and prospects of, developing a relevant and useful planning theory.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document