Overview of planning theory that reviews the evolution of ideas about planning as a form of specialized knowledge, placed in historical context. Compares a range of different views of planning knowledge (positivist, interpretive, design, critical theory) with an emphasis on the relationship between planning and democratic politics.

This course examines the evolution of ideas about city planning as a form of specialized knowledge, placed in the context of broader theoretical discussions of planning. It is a required course for PhD students in the Department of City and Regional Planning but other students are welcome to take the course, with instructor approval. The course has the following objectives: (1) to study the historical arc of “planning theory”; (2) to engage major strains of social theory that have addressed planning or that have influenced planning; (3) to situate planning theory as a distinct field in the discipline of city planning. Readings for the course include: major texts in social theory that have been important to planning theory or that illuminate theory in and of planning (Polanyi, Marx, Foucault, Hayek, and V. Ostrom); texts of more recent social theory (Rose, Fraser, Harvey, Mamdani, and Young); planning theorists in the discipline of city planning (from Rittel, Webber, Davidoff, and Jacobs to Miraftab, Fainstein, and Sandercock); planning scholars whose work is not primarily theoretical but who will be approached from a theoretical perspective (Schoup and Altschuler, among others).

Repeat Rules

Course is not repeatable for credit.