Toward a Political Urban Planning

What is it about?

We use theories of urban governance as a lens through which to examine theories of urban planning to determine if we can understand why theories of planning - and the practice of planning informed by these theories - have never led to the successful solving of inequitable conditions in urban environments. We determine that planners must be better educated in theories of political economy, that members of marginalized communities should be educated in planning programs, and that some of these same people, and their allies, must run for, and win, elected political office in order to build public support for the policies and actions necessary to improve equity.

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Why is it important?

We believe this paper is important for three primary reasons: 1) We place planning theory in direct conversation with political-economic theory; especially unique is the use of Growth Machine Theory, 2) The results of our analysis lead to the understanding that planning education and practice that remain in their pedagogical and professional silos can never solve the problems they aim to solve, and 3) We explain why planning education and practice must 'break out' into other disciplines and professional arenas if they are to contribute to solving the social ills they've always claimed intent to solve.

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