Theory of Planning and the Contexts Forming Them From the Early Decades of 20 Century until the Mid 1970s

Present paper aims at examination of planning theory until mid 1970s and the contexts causing them. Selecting 1970 decade is for this reason that the point of time is a mediate between two distinct types of planning theories: theories of planning until 1970 (mainly positivist), and communicative planning theories (post positivist) that are characteristics of recent decades. Facing the questions about why planning theories are forming and how they are evolving, this paper, learnt from philosophers of science, presuppose that all theories are created to provide an explanation for a theoretical tension resulting from a problematic situation. Planning theories are affected from external factors and contexts. They are not context-less (the condition dominant in natural science), but they are made by individuals within the social, economic and political systems of a real world. Planning theorists try to explain, justify and interpret planning in their own social context. In other words, theory and theorizer are constrained by planning practice and complex social, economic, political and epistemological system within which they operate. Changes in planning reality and their contexts probably will be reflected in theorizers’ perceptions of their profession and nature of theory, social processes and changes. So, for understanding planning theories and their evolutions, we must know that the economic, social, political and epistemological forces produce them. This paper tries to provide a brief description of planning theories and different factors forming them with focusing on three distinct periods. After defining some basic concepts, the paper presents a typology of theories within urban and regional planning. Then, the paper bases its examination on a specific type of theories discussed, namely planning theory or theory of planning. In later stage, different period of planning theorizing is presented according to the views of main planning scholars: there are three main period of planning theory until mid 1970s, as follows: a) first period from beginning of twenty century to the end of 1950s which is well known as a master planning or blueprint period. In this period there is not a planning theory. Second period starts from the end of 1950 to the end1960. This period can be named the era of dominance of systematic planning or procedural planning theory. The third period starts from early 1970s. In this period, there is not any dominant planning theory but there are several planning theories such as incremental planning, advocacy planning, mixed scanning, political economy and transactive planning. Within each planning theorizing periods, different planning theories and factors significant on forming them are discussed. Before doing conclusion, a brief analytical report of evolution of planning theory in recent decades are presented. Examination indicates that planning field in recent decades is dominated by communicative planning theories and post-positive theories from 1980 on. Examination of this period, also, demonstrates that external conditions such as transformation of social theories and epistemological changes originated from knowledge field outside of planning are significant in creation of post positive theories of planning. Theory of communicative action as a social theory from Habermas is the most important framework theory for planning theorists. In final section, paper concludes on different contextual forces which are vital in creation of planning theories.