PARADIGM SHIFTS IN PLANNING
TYPE OF THEORY
OUTWORKINGS
POSITIVISM
Nineteenth century surveys of urban
In retrospect much of this may be seen as
conditions. Scientific approach to public
classists, and eugenic in approach. But also
health, disease, overcrowding
valuable urban infrastructure developed as a
result of reform movement
Early urban sociological studies also based
Utopian visionary ideals, of model communities
on the scientific methods. Comte and neutral, also existed as basis of planning. Social policy
academic approach
as against sociology
First half of twentieth century, growth of
Planning was ideologically and politically
discipline of planning, ‘survey, analysis, and laden, albeit planners may have been unaware
plan’, elitist scientific and spatial approach,
of this being ‘practical types’
impersonal methodology
1960s systems planning is even more
Planners seem out of step with rest of academia
positivist and scientific in approach inspired
which is moving towards post-positivism by the
by the Space Programme.
late 1950s.
POST-POSITIVISM
Within urban sociology in the 1960s move
Other types of urban sociology emerging more
towards post-positivism, a range of
ethnographic, interactive, qualitative and
sociological theories blossom
sensitive. More attention to residents and
community needs
Structure plans more flexible, setting
Planning recognised as a political and imperfect
objectives rather than absolute policies,
process, in which there is no one right answer
Realisation of uncertainty in predicting the
for everyone.
future. More Incremental approach.
CRITICAL THEORY
By 1970s urban conflict theory, and
Other critical theories impinging on planning,
subsequently neo-Marxian theory took over,
including feminism, anti-racism, social model
deterministic and objective in application,
of disability and environmentalism. Attempts at
little space for alternatives
mainstreaming equality issues into planning
CONSTRUCTIVIST THEORY
Post modernism, post structuralist, emphasis more qualitative, reflexive approach, in the
upon small scale differences, culture,
plan-making process, but this increases the
accepting multiplicity of views, Planning for complexity of doing planning in the new
diversity, Communicative, collaborative,
Millennium. Move to neo-liberalism,
institutionalist approach to doing planning
community involvement and new localism. City
related to community
as Culture and the right to the city.