ABSTRACT
The concept of literacies as developed by Sandercock is useful; however, for the culturised system being developed here, a simpler and more usable formulation is required as a day-to-day heuristic for the active planner. These literacies are distilled from an examination of proposals from a number of writers on the development of cultural and planning literacies. This chapter outlines the relevance of the concept of global competence and a consideration of the importance of strategic planning as a contemporary planning skill. Global competence in planning would also include planning learning and exchange. Cultural literacy in the planner encompasses the capacity to identify, develop and utilise culture in its tangible and intangible forms and contemporary and historical manifestations. Culturisation has the power to reform and update planning as a cultural practice, and master literacies are the agents that will assist planners to focus their mission and to promote cultural reflection as the ethical work of planning at its highest level.
