BEYOND PLANNING THEORY
Week 1
Planning theories 101
- Planning theory is the body of
scientific concepts, definitions, and
assumptions that define the body of
knowledge of urban planning
- Normative: the ideal world, how
planning ought to be
- Prescriptive: based on choice and
truths, how to get to this ideal
- Descriptive: empirical, explains and
interprets based on hypotheses
- Positivism: only recognizes what can be scientifically verified
- Post-positivism: acknowledges that absolute truth and objectivity are
unattainable due to inherent human biases, limited information, and
subjective experiences
- Rational (comprehensive) planning (P)
1. Decision-maker considers all alternatives
2. Identifies and evaluates consequences of all options
3. Selects option with preferable consequences
- Critique on rational planning: not concerned with human part of planning
- System planning (P) conceptualizes cities and regions as complex,
interconnected systems that can be understood through modelling and
analysis.
- Communicative planning a planning approach emphasizing
collaboration, dialogue with diverse stakeholders (democratic)
- Modernist settlement: The world exists ‘out there’ and only needs to be
looked at to reveal itself
- Epistemology: empirical research (what is it, how do we acquire it?)
- Ontology: what exists and what nature is
- Ontology addresses the nature of things that can be known, and
epistemology explores how we do know them.
- Paradigm: a way of looking at something
, BEYOND PLANNING THEORY
Literature
Rydin, Y. (2021). Introduction: Theory and Planning Research. In Theory in Planning Research (pp. 1-17). Singapore: Springer
Singapore
, BEYOND PLANNING THEORY
Planning research
- Multiple definitions of planning. Example, planning is a form of decision making that
seeks to achieve specific goals through implementing actions, plans, policies, or
programmes.
- Planning research exists to generate knowledge and understand the dynamics and
causes of planning situations while contributing to debates in planning research.
- Incorporating a theoretical perspective is crucial for addressing planning challenges,
as theory helps researchers focus their efforts, interpret data, and construct
persuasive narratives
- Limitations of planning research: risk of value judgment or linked to a professional
practice/ current political agenda
- Theory is, therefore, best seen as a set of ideas that fit together coherently and make
general statements about the world or a part of it.
- Empiricism critics: value judgements, alternative interpretations to collected data,
hard to make connections between research projects and its findings
What is theory?
- Theory is a set of ideas that fit together coherently and make general statements
about the world or a part of it
- Theories are complex and fundamental conceptual frameworks that define much
more than just the boundaries of an area of study. They are not arbitrary "windows"
or simple framings because they involve deep, foundational commitments that shape
how a researcher views and interprets the world.
- Rydin states that theories involve "fundamental assumptions about how the world is".
This refers to a theory's ontological position.
- Theories also incorporate "value judgements about how it should be (even if these
are not explicitly stated)". This refers to a theory's normative position.
- Choosing a theory is a profound act that defines the researcher’s fundamental beliefs
about reality (ontology), their underlying values concerning desired outcomes
(normativity), and the legitimate processes they must use to investigate and generate
verifiable understanding (epistemology).
, BEYOND PLANNING THEORY
Is theory necessary?
- Empiricism facts can speak for themselves, no need for theory (modernist
settlement)
- Critique for empiricism: value judgements, misinterpreting of data
- Author argues that theoretical framing enables the research to focus their attention
but also do a better analysis of empirical findings
- Phronesis the act of practical wisdom. Author critiques by saying:
1. Research is a skill, not an inherent personal virtue
2. Phronesis involves theoretical judgements
- Theoretical frameworks help a researcher in early decisions and finding focus in the
research. Different theories have different views of emphasis.
- Linking empirical research to a theoretical account assists in the task of analysing
and concluding from empirical research.
- Theory-led research allows for the possibility of using empirical research to build
theory, and to revise and amplify theoretical frameworks. This contribution goes
beyond the knowledge of the specific empirical focus of the research
Alexander, E.R. (2022). On planning, planning theories, and practices: A critical reflection. Planning Theory, 21(2), pp.181-
211.
- There is not one practice of planning, but a diverse set of planning practices across
scales and contexts.
Three different types of planning practices:
- Generic planning What people do when they are planning in any context
- Knowledge-centred planning (normative) Specialized planning (transport, spatial)
- Real contextual planning Planning practices performed places, times and
communities (specific, e.g. Rail network in Europe)
- There is no planning as a recognizable practice, but planning is a multiscale set of
diverse practices. Planning is not a practice, but a set of diverse practices in a fractal
multiscale hierarchy linking different kinds of practices to different levels of planning
theories.
- Sociology of knowledge definitions imply three kinds of planning practices: (1)
Generic “planning”—what people do when they are planning; (2) Knowledge-centred
“something” (e.g., spatial) planning; and (3) Real planning: “Something” planning
practiced in particular contexts, from advocacy planning for a Colombian barrio to
transportation planning for the EU, and planning enacted in general contexts, for
example, informal, insurgent, and Southern planning.
- Fractal model planning is a set of diverse practices linked to different levels of
planning theories
Madden, D., & Marcuse, P. (2016). Chapter 1: Against the commodification of housing. In: In defense of housing. The politics of
crisis
Week 1
Planning theories 101
- Planning theory is the body of
scientific concepts, definitions, and
assumptions that define the body of
knowledge of urban planning
- Normative: the ideal world, how
planning ought to be
- Prescriptive: based on choice and
truths, how to get to this ideal
- Descriptive: empirical, explains and
interprets based on hypotheses
- Positivism: only recognizes what can be scientifically verified
- Post-positivism: acknowledges that absolute truth and objectivity are
unattainable due to inherent human biases, limited information, and
subjective experiences
- Rational (comprehensive) planning (P)
1. Decision-maker considers all alternatives
2. Identifies and evaluates consequences of all options
3. Selects option with preferable consequences
- Critique on rational planning: not concerned with human part of planning
- System planning (P) conceptualizes cities and regions as complex,
interconnected systems that can be understood through modelling and
analysis.
- Communicative planning a planning approach emphasizing
collaboration, dialogue with diverse stakeholders (democratic)
- Modernist settlement: The world exists ‘out there’ and only needs to be
looked at to reveal itself
- Epistemology: empirical research (what is it, how do we acquire it?)
- Ontology: what exists and what nature is
- Ontology addresses the nature of things that can be known, and
epistemology explores how we do know them.
- Paradigm: a way of looking at something
, BEYOND PLANNING THEORY
Literature
Rydin, Y. (2021). Introduction: Theory and Planning Research. In Theory in Planning Research (pp. 1-17). Singapore: Springer
Singapore
, BEYOND PLANNING THEORY
Planning research
- Multiple definitions of planning. Example, planning is a form of decision making that
seeks to achieve specific goals through implementing actions, plans, policies, or
programmes.
- Planning research exists to generate knowledge and understand the dynamics and
causes of planning situations while contributing to debates in planning research.
- Incorporating a theoretical perspective is crucial for addressing planning challenges,
as theory helps researchers focus their efforts, interpret data, and construct
persuasive narratives
- Limitations of planning research: risk of value judgment or linked to a professional
practice/ current political agenda
- Theory is, therefore, best seen as a set of ideas that fit together coherently and make
general statements about the world or a part of it.
- Empiricism critics: value judgements, alternative interpretations to collected data,
hard to make connections between research projects and its findings
What is theory?
- Theory is a set of ideas that fit together coherently and make general statements
about the world or a part of it
- Theories are complex and fundamental conceptual frameworks that define much
more than just the boundaries of an area of study. They are not arbitrary "windows"
or simple framings because they involve deep, foundational commitments that shape
how a researcher views and interprets the world.
- Rydin states that theories involve "fundamental assumptions about how the world is".
This refers to a theory's ontological position.
- Theories also incorporate "value judgements about how it should be (even if these
are not explicitly stated)". This refers to a theory's normative position.
- Choosing a theory is a profound act that defines the researcher’s fundamental beliefs
about reality (ontology), their underlying values concerning desired outcomes
(normativity), and the legitimate processes they must use to investigate and generate
verifiable understanding (epistemology).
, BEYOND PLANNING THEORY
Is theory necessary?
- Empiricism facts can speak for themselves, no need for theory (modernist
settlement)
- Critique for empiricism: value judgements, misinterpreting of data
- Author argues that theoretical framing enables the research to focus their attention
but also do a better analysis of empirical findings
- Phronesis the act of practical wisdom. Author critiques by saying:
1. Research is a skill, not an inherent personal virtue
2. Phronesis involves theoretical judgements
- Theoretical frameworks help a researcher in early decisions and finding focus in the
research. Different theories have different views of emphasis.
- Linking empirical research to a theoretical account assists in the task of analysing
and concluding from empirical research.
- Theory-led research allows for the possibility of using empirical research to build
theory, and to revise and amplify theoretical frameworks. This contribution goes
beyond the knowledge of the specific empirical focus of the research
Alexander, E.R. (2022). On planning, planning theories, and practices: A critical reflection. Planning Theory, 21(2), pp.181-
211.
- There is not one practice of planning, but a diverse set of planning practices across
scales and contexts.
Three different types of planning practices:
- Generic planning What people do when they are planning in any context
- Knowledge-centred planning (normative) Specialized planning (transport, spatial)
- Real contextual planning Planning practices performed places, times and
communities (specific, e.g. Rail network in Europe)
- There is no planning as a recognizable practice, but planning is a multiscale set of
diverse practices. Planning is not a practice, but a set of diverse practices in a fractal
multiscale hierarchy linking different kinds of practices to different levels of planning
theories.
- Sociology of knowledge definitions imply three kinds of planning practices: (1)
Generic “planning”—what people do when they are planning; (2) Knowledge-centred
“something” (e.g., spatial) planning; and (3) Real planning: “Something” planning
practiced in particular contexts, from advocacy planning for a Colombian barrio to
transportation planning for the EU, and planning enacted in general contexts, for
example, informal, insurgent, and Southern planning.
- Fractal model planning is a set of diverse practices linked to different levels of
planning theories
Madden, D., & Marcuse, P. (2016). Chapter 1: Against the commodification of housing. In: In defense of housing. The politics of
crisis
