Introduction to Planning Theory

BUEU 2103: PLANNING THEORY 10 & 12 September 2013

What is planning?
a universal human activity involving the consideration of outcomes before choosing amongst alternatives a deliberate, self-conscious activity

WHAT IS PLANNING?
Friedmann states that "..all planning must confront the meta-theoretical problem of how to make technical knowledge in planning effective in informing public actions" In sum, Friedmann defines planning as the component that links knowledge & action. KNOWLEDGE ACTION Planning is what links technical knowledge and actions in the public domain.

WHAT IS PLANNING?
K
K K

A
A A

(Rational Planning)
(Incremental Planning) (Transactive Planning)

K
P

P
A

(Activist Planning)
(Radical Planning)

WHAT IS A THEORY?

What is the role of theory in understanding planning?

planning is rooted in applied disciplines
primary interest in practical problem solving

early planning theories emerged out of practice

planning codified as a professional activity originally transmitted by practitioners via apprenticeships

efforts to develop a coherent theory emerged in the 1950s and 60s

need to rationalize the interests and activities of planning under conditions of social foment the social sciences as a more broadly based interpretive lens

Domain of planning theory

Deals with ideas and arguments related to the conduct of planning Aims to provide some overall or general understanding of the nature of planning
What sort of activity is planning? What should it aim to do? What are its effects on social life? What are its effects on urban morphology and function? What are the components of good quality urban environments? Under what conditions are these qualities most likely to be realised? What part can planning play in creating better/liveable cities?

- Need for more systematic and forward-thinking action Era of Urban - Concepts linking planning, research, action - Imbedded in architecture, engineering, social work Industrialization 1915 Roaring 20s & Progressive Era The Depression Era & Urban Stagnation - Planning as a profession and public institution - Physical determinism: City Beautiful & City Efficient - Focus on land use & comprehensive analysis 1928 - Regionalizing/nationalizing of planning - Social science as a tool of planning - Focus on econ development & social policy 1945 - Trust in governmental authority - Modernism, comprehensiveness & rationality Post-WWII Modernism Suburbanization & Central City Decline 1960 Social Activism, Federal Policy & Regional Cities

1870

- Social science strengthened & challenged - Planning optimism - Rise of community voice & social protest - Political action for reform and transformation

1980 Retreat from Policy Privatization - Post-modern critique of rationality - Segmentation of voices of communities into communities with voice - Focus on interaction, communication, process 2003