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"I don't create controversies. They're there long before I open my mouth. I just bring them to your attention." - Charles Barkley

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

What is the communicative turn for Public Participation?

What is the communicative turn?

In the 1970s, the communicative aspects of planning began gaining in importance as the recognition of differences in the identity and knowledge base of people became a central issue. This change has been called a communicative turn in planning.

The recognition that all forms of knowledge are socially constructed, that individuals and institutions have different interests and power relations; all these are relevant to communicative planning theory. The turn towards communicative planning was a reaction to earlier comprehensive, rationalistic and technocratic planning theories, predominant in the 1950s and 1960s, which drew on reason and scientifically constructed empirical knowledge. The change was from all-knowing systematized planning to mediating planners.


Theory and practice

It has been argued that this turn has been theoretical rather than real-life and that planning still follows the old paths. In addition, perceptions of the role of the urban planner or city administration in general have changed. Earlier, planning was seen as a non-political activity, but today, planning activities are considered political and involving power. Currently, the differing interests and power relations of NGOs and businesses, for example, are self-evident in most processes.


Pro et contra

Communicative planning has also been criticized. Some critics say that it is not possible to have a communicative planning process in land-use or strategy merely by increasing communication between stakeholders or promoting public participation. (For example, people define a good living environment in differing ways: some prefer an urban, others a more rural setting, to be very simplistic. It can be a catalyst for communication, but can it produce better decisions?)

The current trend is to increase the opportunities for participation almost everywhere. Planners believe that a participatory process lessens future problems and complaints as the civil society is more involved in formulating decisions.

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