On planning, planning theories, and practices: A critical reflection

Abstract

The futility of defining planning suggests that there is no planning as a recognizable practice. Sociology of knowledge definitions imply three kinds of planning practices: (1) Generic “planning”—what people do when they are planning; (2) Knowledge-centered “something” (e.g., spatial) planning; and (3) Real planning practiced in specific contexts, from metro-regional planning for Jakarta to transportation planning for the Trans-Europe Network, and enacted in general contexts, for example, informal- or Southern planning. Planning theories are linked to different practices: generic “planning” theories and “something” (e.g., regional, community, environmental, or Southern) planning theories. Selected topics illustrate the “planning” theory discourse and spatial planning theories are briefly reviewed. Three generations of planning practice studies are reviewed: the first, a-theoretical; the second, the “practice movement,” who studied practice for their own theorizing; and the third, informed by practice theories. Five books about planning show how their planning theorist authors understand planning practice. While recognizing planning as diverse practices, they hardly apply “planning” theory to planning practices. “Planning” theories are divorced from enacted planning practices, “something” (e.g., spatial) planning theories include constructive adaptations of “planning” theories and paradigms, but knowledge about real planning practices is limited. Implications from these conclusions are drawn for planning theory, education, and practices.

Redevelopment Initiatives on Brownfield Sites: An Evaluation Model for the Definition of Sustainable Investments

“…Therefore, the planner's choices should be based on the implementation of assessment methodologies able to compare different alternatives and scenarios before their realization. As a result, the evaluation constitutes an intrinsic part of decision mechanism [11][12][13]. It provides a rational support for the verification of the effectiveness and soundness of choices, by increasing their transparency and enhancing the collaborative processes [14,15].…”

Transitions for People: Locating Inequality in Sustainable Urban Mobility Transitions

“…Recognizing the comprehensiveness of practices has been on the agenda within planning studies. This has contributed to theoretical and empirical studies on planners' practices and practices in planning processes (Verma, 1995;Watson, 2002;Davoudi, 2015;Kurath et al, 2018;Alexander, 2022). Planners' practices have been discussed, for instance, within Science and Technology Studies (STS), Actor-Network Theory (ANT), or Social Construction of Technology (SCOT) (Pinch and Bijker, 1984;Hommels, 2018;Kurath et al, 2018).…”

“…In particular, Patsy Healey's seminal article A Planners' Day (1992) explored planners' different roles and practices in their everyday work. When planning research and theories of practice have been combined, the focus has been on planners' practices (Alexander, 2016(Alexander, , 2022Gram-Hanssen, 2022), conceptualizing planning processes (Harders, 2015;Luukkonen, 2017), or organizational relations and work studies (Gherardi, 2012).…”