Planning Theory in Retrospect: The Process of Paradigm Change

Abstract

The diversity and turbulence in contemporary planning thought is not new to the profession. It comes, however, at a time when the need for rationalizing and clarifying the planning function in social organizations of democratic societies appears to be critical. Planners are becoming increasingly aware of the pluralistic nature of values and of their pluralistic composition as a group of professionals. As an approach in accomplishing this clarification, it is useful to look in retrospect at the philosophies, events, and issues that have led to the present configuration of planning thought and the process of its development over time. An analogy is suggested between the planning models that have evolved in the profession during the past twenty-five years and the process of paradigm change in the physical sciences as presented by Thomas Kuhn. Phases of planning theory development are suggested and analyzed in terms of Kuhn's dialectical approach. The article concludes by arguing the need for integrating procedural and substantive elements of planning theory in ways that reflect the multiplicity of process-object linkages of current planning practice through planning for diversity.