ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews the body of thought that is generally called planning theory, identifying three diverging "streams" that planning theorists have followed. The three diverging streams are the radical-communicative, the post-structuralist and the institutionalist streams. The radical-communicative stream is true "planning" theory for generic planning practice. Its paradigms and models are general and abstract and have limited applicability to other planning practices. Post-structuralist planning theories, like their European sources, are the consistent products of hermeneutic analysis; facts revealed through empirical research are disregarded or ignored. Unlike radical-communicative and post-structuralist planning theories for generic planning practice, institutionalists' work relates to specific planning practices. The chapter identifies different kinds of planning theories, links them to the diverse planning practices, and explores how these relations could explain how planning and planning-related research informs planning theory and practices. It discusses spatial planning as an illustrative case of a planning practice.
