Planning Threatened: A Preliminary Report of Planners and Political Conflict

Abstract

The prospect of political conflict frequently threatens planners. Interviews with a sample of 60 Chicago planners indicates the incidence of job threatening political conflicts may be as high as one in two. In contrast, one in three admitted purposefully avoiding the danger of political disputes altogether. In describing efforts to prevent or cope with political conflict, planners reveal ambivalence about the expectations of their professional role and the uncertainties of political practice. For instance, winners usually claim victory based on professional prowess. Losers blame defeat on the power of their opponents. Despite the popularity of political avoidance and individual professionalism among planners, most agree they would like to know politically experienced colleagues to whom they could turn for advice when under attack. Planners may be willing to trade off some of the alleged virtue of professional autonomy for a bit of personal and practical solidarity.