Policy Making Theory and Environmental Planning (Case Study: Sustainable Development Theory)

Theorizing especially in social sciences concerned with hierarchical levels of values and normative preconceptions whether from the perspective of formulizing and interpretation or policy making and application. Meta-theories (ontological, epistemological, methodological issues) are at the top of the hierarchy, followed by social science theories and finally ends to policymaking theories. Policymaking theories connect fundamental and theoretical thoughts to social acts. Environmental planning as a normative profession and activity requires such theories to propose governing activities. This paper aims to discuss whether there are any cases of policy theories in environmental planning or not. Following with this question if respecting the fact that in the recent decades, sustainable development concept has been a source of inspiration to environmental policymaking activities around the world, would it be possible to consider it as an environmental policy making theory or not. Based on epistemological, linguistic and historical analysis, the paper suggests that it is possible to consider sustainable development concept as a policy-making theory. Furthermore, regarding obvious effects of this concept on adopted environmental policies all around the world including Iran, it is confirmed that sustainbale development concept is consider as a case of policymaking theory in environmental planning.