Contemporary Planning Theories

In this weeks reading, New Directions in Planning Theory, Susan Fainstein discuses three contemporary approaches in planning theory, namely, the communicative model, New Urbanism, and the just city. She explores whether theses approaches are able to achieve a high quality of life in the context of a “global capitalist political economy”. It is this goal that Fainstein believes to be the primary objective of modern urban planning.

The communicative model advocates that the central function of planners is to listen to and communicate with the various stakeholders involved in planning. It is then the job of the planner to find a solution that the various groups can agree on. Among other theoretical and practical deficiencies, Fainstein identifies “the gap between rhetoric and action” as a flaw of the communicative model. To me this flaw seems fundamental- for if there is indeed dissociation between words and physical realties then communicative planning is by definition an inadequate planning theory.

New Urbanism is a planning theory that is design based and concerned primarily with the physical form. Despite it’s popularity, this theory can be criticized for it’s focus on physical determinism i.e. it seeks the achievement of social justice through purely physical means. I do agree on one level that this a simplification of the diverse and numerous mechanisms that function in the planning domain. It is reasonable, however, to assume that the manipulation of physical forms is not a bad place to start when it comes to achieving an equitable society.

The just city is a normative theory that involves radical democracy and politically economy. Essentially, it advocates extensive civil participation and equitable distribution of wealth and services, as well as increasing wealth and expanding the middle class. In contrast to the previous two approaches, to me this theory seems to be a bit distant from the planning realm. By this I mean that while the communicative model and new urbanism have specific goals in terms of the planners involvement and the physical form, the just city is more idealistic and dissociated with the practicalities of the profession.

Also, here is an interesting video about New Urbanism: