The course aims to provide a robust understanding of the theoretical landscape of planning and its application in practice. Upon completion, participants will be able to:

• Graduate Students in Urban Planning or Public Policy
• Mid-Career Planning Professionals seeking advanced knowledge
• Public Administrators and Municipal Managers
• Consultants and Researchers in Urban Development
• Advocacy Group Leaders and Community Organizers
• Legal Professionals specializing in planning law
• Elected and Appointed Officials involved in development approvals

• Case Studies of planning controversies analyzed through multiple theoretical lenses
• Group Activities: Role-playing a contentious public hearing using a specific theoretical model
• Critical Readings and Seminar-style Discussion
• Individual Exercises: Writing a theoretical critique of a current local development project
• Scenario Planning and Simulation Exercises
• Ethical Dilemma Workshops and Debates

Unit 1: The Foundations of Planning Theory

• Defining the rational model and its systematic approach
• The assumption of goal clarity and information completeness
• Critiques of the rational model (e.g., complexity, political reality)
• The role of the 'master plan' and its limitations
• Linking rational comprehensive planning to zoning practice
• The historical context of the model's dominance

• Charles Lindblom's concept of "muddling through"
• The political feasibility and practicality of incrementalism
• Herbert Simon and the limits of human cognition (satisficing)
• Strategies for effective decision-making under uncertainty
• The role of policy experimentation and learning
• Examples of incrementalism in budget and infrastructure planning

Unit 2: Political and Conflict Theories

• Marxist and neo-Marxist critiques of capitalist urban development
• The role of the state and class conflict in shaping the city
• Harvey's concept of the "spatial fix" and capital accumulation
• Understanding the influence of growth coalitions and regimes
• The struggle over the social production of space
• Applying political economy to gentrification and displacement

• Paul Davidoff's call for planning in the public interest
• The role of planners as advocates for marginalized communities
• Strategies for empowering underserved populations
• The ethical dilemmas of balancing advocacy and professional neutrality
• Equity planning principles and their application in policy design
• Case studies of successful advocacy planning movements

Unit 3: Communication and Collaborative Theories

• Jürgen Habermas and the ideal speech situation
• The importance of argumentation, dialogue, and mutual learning
• Applying communicative action to public participation processes
• Techniques for facilitating productive stakeholder discussions
• The challenges of power imbalances and voice in participation
• Evaluating the quality and legitimacy of planning outcomes

• Conflict resolution and negotiation skills in planning
• The role of the planner as mediator and process manager
• Setting up multi-stakeholder partnerships and steering committees
• Risk and uncertainty management in collaborative projects
• Examples of collaborative planning in environmental or regional issues
• Critiques of collaboration and the avoidance of deep conflict

Unit 4: Post-Positivist and Contemporary Theories

• Foucault's ideas of power/knowledge and spatial control
• Deconstruction of planning narratives and universal truths
• The role of identity, difference, and diverse lifeworlds in planning
• Feminist and queer critiques of the spatial organization of cities
• Planning for marginalized groups and intersectionality
• The impact of cultural studies on understanding urban space

• New Urbanism and Smart Growth as theoretical movements
• Resilience planning and the focus on shock and adaptation
• Ecological and complexity theories in urban systems
• Actor-Network Theory (ANT) and the role of non-human agents
• Planning for technology and the "Smart City" critique
• The concept of "weak theory" and its utility in practice

Unit 5: Ethical and Practical Applications

• The AICP/RTPI Code of Ethics and its core tenets
• Managing conflicts of interest and professional integrity
• The ethical dimension of data use and surveillance in planning
• Balancing private property rights and the public good
• Ethical obligations to future generations and the environment
• Case studies on ethical dilemmas in development review

• Selecting the appropriate planning theory for a given context
• Developing policy interventions grounded in theoretical models
• Evaluating the success of planning outcomes based on theoretical criteria
• Reflective practice and continuous professional learning
• Structuring a public participation process based on communicative theory
• Writing policy reports with clear theoretical justification