Responding to a complex world: explorations in spatial planning

This article discusses three aspects in relation to complexity theory. First, from an understanding of time and space specificities in the rise of theories, it discusses the wider socio-political reasons that may account for the rise of Complexity Theory and its interest for planners today. The rise of the third sector in governance; the decentralisation of the nation state; the rise of informality; the exponential rise of information and knowledge in every sphere of human and non-human activity and the rise of new normative ideologies are argued to provide the social context for interest in Complexity Theory. Second, this article positions complexity theory within general social science theories and argues that complexity theory best suits the second order realm of social science theorisation. Third, this article positions complexity theory within planning theory and suggests that complexity theorists within planning might engage with the theory in three ways. These are by suggesting new ways of ordering of society and space by configuring or re-configuring planning systems in the first order; unravelling new opportunities for actors to work in society and space with largely self-organised entities and finally by searching for and discovering new dynamics for systems in the first order in society and space

Meta-operations, autopoiesis and neo-systems thinking: what significance for spatial planners?

This essay introduces the theory of legal autopoiesis to planning. It discusses the main tenets of neo-systems thinking and elaborates on select claims and concepts from legal autopoiesis for planners. The claims and concepts are then used to re-analyse a published case study describing the after effects of the implementation of a Compulsory Purchase Order in the regeneration of the Docklands in Cardiff. The re-interpretation draws attention to the added insights brought into focus by the theory. The significance of neo-systems thinking for planning is then discussed. The paper concludes that the new epistemological framings connects the universal to the particular with implications for current understandings of planning concepts such as public interest, consensus, situatedness, contingency and justice. The article argues that neo-systems thinking deconstructs ‘how to’ dilemmas for planners from a non-normative standpoint at a meta-operational level

Sustaining responsible tourism – The case of Kerala.

Responsible tourism is a concept that overlaps significantly with concepts of sustainable tourism, ethical tourism, pro-poor tourism and integrated tourism (Chettiparamb and Kokkranikal, 2012). Responsible tourism emphasises the role of businesses in achieving sustainability and can be seen as yet another concept within the sustainable tourism genre, which comprises many forms of tourism such as ecotourism, ethical tourism, alternative tourism, green tourism, soft tourism, etc. Responsible tourism as a motto has now been officially adopted by many important tourism destinations. Though perhaps not yet a ‘movement’, the concept is increasingly being pushed by states and city governments on normative grounds. The international appeal of the concept could also be partly explained by the centrality given to the involvement and engagement of the private sector in managing impacts of tourism. Thus, besides offering a normative appeal, ‘responsible tourism’ also offers a pragmatic appeal in managing tourism in an increasingly (post) neo-liberal world. After all, the private sector is the major provider of tourism experiences and services in most destinations worldwide and is a fast growing presence in this sector. Kerala is one of the most popular tourist destinations in India, both domestically and overseas. With the range of tourism resources and a relatively well-developed society, tourism was identified as a major industry (Kokkranikal and Morrison, 2002). Even though Kerala has seen an impressive growth in tourism during noughties, the state has not been free from some of the environmental and socio-cultural problems associated with tourism (Jacob, 1998, White, 2007). Recently, Kerala has adopted responsible tourism as its principal tourism development strategy and pioneered it in four tourist destination, viz. Kumarakom, Thekkady, Kovalam and Wayanad. The aims of this paper is to discuss the processes involved in operationalising the concept of ‘responsible tourism’ within the state of Kerala, India, and analyse factors that led to mixed results in the four tourist destinations. We highlight and emphasise the central role of what we terms as ‘hands off’ planning realised through empowerment, engagement and proactive facilitation in sustaining responsible tourism

Planning in the face of ‘deep divisions’: a view from Beirut, Lebanon

This article discusses planning in the global South-East while focusing on the specific context of social divides, political turmoil and conflict situations. The article proposes a five-way framework based on political science and planning to theory to analyse such contexts. The article explores the case of Beirut, Lebanon that has undergone several episodes of internal and external conflicts resulting in a society splintered along sectarianism. Three Two case studies of open urban spaces and their public activities are analysed using the five-way framework The discussion indicates how economic liberalism that is prevalent in countries of the South-East, along with place-based identities, interest-based identities, consensus orientated processes and institutionalism might facilitate a cultivation of deep values away from a narrowly constructed identity. The article argues that planners should understand the options for positive action that aim to bridge deep divisions and suggests that the five-way framework provides a reference for contextualising in different ways to suit particular contexts. Therefore, the framework is not necessarily restricted to the South-East but could be applicable to any context which manifests deep divisions

Complexity theory and planning: Methodological insights

The main research question that the thesis addresses is 'what is the relevance of complexity theory for planning'. Having set out to examine a theoretical question, the thesis is guided by the nature of theory development. The realm of generalised discourse, theory contextualisation and empirical examination are thus addressed. The argument starts from an understanding of the nature of complexity theory as it emerges from within the natural sciences. The philosophical grounds of the theory and the way in which complexity theory might relate to the social realm are then discussed. Planning is conceptualised in specific ways and the relevance for second order planning is advanced. The use of complexity theory in the non-quantitative stream within planning is discussed leading to the formulation of a methodology for theory transfer derived from the theory of metaphors. Two concepts for theory transfer and contextualisation are chosen on methodological grounds ---fractals and autopoiesis. The chapter on fractals uses the methodology derived and advances a causal claim for use in the second level of planning defined and argued for earlier empirically demonstrated by re-conceptualising a case-study--- the People's Planning Campaign of Kerala, India. The chapters on autopoiesis focus on the use of concepts from autopoiesis to raise separate sets of questions for planning illustrated by discussing secondary case studies. Instances of ways in which answers might be found to these questions in actual planning practice is then discussed through re-interpreting the case study. In summary, the thesis advances an argument for the relevance of complexity theory for planning and sees this relevance as a contribution to methodological issues that arise from a systemic conception for planning in the second level, foregrounding society such that planning as an activity is undertaken by society leading to an ordering emerging out of local specificity and detail

Civic societies and the planning process: exploring the role of local civic societies in the English planning system

This report draws on data collected through a survey questionnaire sent to all Civic Voice member societies with the aim of better understanding the contemporary role that civic societies play in the English planning system. We explore this using a research framework involving four aspects. The first seeks to understand civic societies’ role in relation to place-making more broadly; the second seeks to understand civic society’s role in the planning system; the third section seeks to understand the civic society’s role with regard to the wider community and the fourth and final section probes civic society’s own reflections on their future. The overall conclusions and implications for policy address the variable relationship between civic societies and Local Planning Authorities, the future challenges that societies face and the possibilities for improving how societies are engaged in a future, reformed planning system

Articulating ‘public interest’ through complexity theory

The ‘Public interest’, even if viewed with ambiguity or scepticism, has been one of the primary means by which various professional roles of planners have been justified. Many objections to the concept have been advanced by writers in planning academia. Notwithstanding these, ‘public interest’ continues to be mobilised, to justify, defend or argue for planning interventions and reforms. This has led to arguments that planning will have to adopt and recognise some form of public interest in practice to legitimise itself.. This paper explores current debates around public interest and social justice and advances a vision of the public interest informed by complexity theory. The empirical context of the paper is the poverty alleviation programme, the Kudumbashree project in Kerala, India