Agency and Structure in Urban and Regional Planning
An Illustrative Overview and Future Research Agenda
E. Purkarthofer (Aalto University)
D. Stead (TU Delft - Spatial Planning and Strategy, Aalto University)
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Abstract
There is extensive literature on the agency of actors in urban and regional planning which draws on a wide range of theoretical lenses and concepts. One of the recurring themes is the relationship between agency and structure—the mutual interdependence between individual actions and collective institutions, rules, and norms. This article provides a narrative overview of the wide range of literature on agency and structure in relation to spatial planning clustered around six interrelated themes: institutions, discretion, pragmatism, networks, leadership, and emotions. It identifies new avenues for research, paying particular attention to empirical, scalar, and methodological issues.
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