Notes on the Uses and Scope of City Planning Theory

Abstract

This mapping article highlights two concerns about city planning theory: its uses and roles in urban planning, and its scope. Regarding its main uses or functions, there are four: explanation, prediction, justification, and normative guidance. Each of these four roles is briefly explained before moving on to the core of the article regarding the scope of planning theory, as the use of city planning theory bears directly on its reach, and vice versa. This discussion addresses the question of the contribution of planning theory to urban development, and suggests how to explain that contribution.