Culture and Planning

This work seeks to open up a new field in planning studies: the study of the irrationality of planning. It examines culture as a concept in its own right, one with a social history and a history of analysis, within the context of public planning. The book begins by tracing the intellectual history of the concept of culture, treating culture as a specific historical concept whose meaning has changed and whose use has varied. Early chapters explore how the concept of culture has been used as a framework for changing understandings of categories such as nationalism, racism, and elitism. Later chapters deal with local govnernance practices in planning, neighborhood campaigning, management practices, and organizational change in the field of planning. Case studies are presented in housing planning. The book will be of interest to theorists, professionals, and students in planning, human geography, and sociology. Information on the author is not given. Annotation c2012 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Simone Abram is Reader in Tourism and Cultural Change at Leeds Metropolitan University, UK.