Theme 2: Governance, Power, and Urban Planning ideologies

Cities are a reflection of

political, philosophical, and economic systems that shape them

Urban planning mirrors…

changing conceptions of governance and power

Enlightenment Rationalism

Philosophical movement that emphasized reason and logic as the primary source of knowledge

Enlightenment Rationalism for cities

Cities are embodiments of order, logic, and progress
Rise of the centralized state and bureaucratic governance 

Baroque and industrial city forms

Haussmanns Paris - reflect political control and rational efficiency

Technocratic optimism

belief that reason and data perfect a society

Enlightenment rationality & technocratic thinking led to…

modern planning, but also detached humans from ecological and moral limits 

The transition from communal land to private ownership >

the foundation of capitalist urbanism (commodification of property)

Zoning laws formalize..

control and reinforce segregation

simple, predictable, protects values; inflexible, inequitable

Tragedy of the commons 

shared resources are overused 

property

bundle of rights, legally protected, socially contested

Rational comprehensive planning

approach to problem-solving that involves a series of logical steps

RCM

data — goals — implementation — monitoring

technocratic planning

experts, emphasis on standards & implementation

keynesian welfare planning

keynesian cities: rationally planned, zoned cities

Jane Jacobs

advocated for sense, diverse neighborhoods, criticized large-scale, rational urban renewal

Arnstein’s ladder of citizen participation

represented citizen power in planning
builds legitimacy, meets community needs, time consuming

In democratic and social planning, planners moved from 

experts to facilitators 

In neoliberal planning…

market efficiency replaces welfare and equity

What does new public management reframe planners as

deal-makers, partnering with the private sector

neoliberal planning emphasized by 

pro-growth and pro-market, rise of NYMISM

What is the modern planning trajectory?

enlightenment - positivism - rational planning - equity - political - economy - post-colonialism - sustainability

Enlightenment urban planning

belief that a city's physical environment could improve the lives of its citizens

Reorienting urban planning

planners must recognize their political roles and responsibilities and power 

planning as power

every system of planning reflects and enforces power whether technocratic, or neoliberal

Rationality vs. Democracy

tension between efficient, data-driven decision-making and inclusive, participatory processes

Depoliticization 

Neoliberalism hides political choices behind “market logic”

Re-politization of planning

modern frameworks call for transparent, ethical, and participatory governance

RMA

mirrors rational planning model: policy framework - plan - submissions - operative plans - monitoring - plan adjustments

Auckland unitary plan

zoning plan for Auckland, uses zones, overlays, and precincts, very regulatory, balances private development rights with public interests 

Treaty of Waitangi

foundational in redefining sovereignty and shared governance