ABSTRACT
The theoretical underpinnings of planning can be examined under the light of three broad 'paradigms' that emerged during the twentieth century (see Table 3.1). These paradigms or conceptions of planning are not incompatible theoretical positions in the Kuhnian sense (see Taylor, 1999), but rather reflect approaches to planning that deeply affected planning theory, education and practice, successively adding new aspects rather than fully replacing previous approaches. They still coexist, rather than constituting a deterministic chronological progression. For example, many aspects of the 'blueprint' approach have been rehabilitated through the practice of master-planning. Similarly across Europe planning is often split as a profession between a geographical/economic/environmental base (which is most evident at regional scale) and the physical and technical disciplines of architecture and engineering, which are most rooted in (but by no means confined to) planning practice at more local scales. Each of the three paradigms has implications for how participation in planning is conceptualized and implemented, as is seen in this chapter.
