Comparative Planning Research, Learning, and Governance

The Benefits and Limitations of Learning Policy by Comparison

Bibliographic Data

ID22018606
AuthorsK Van Assche (0000-0003-1745-0043, University of Alberta), Raoul Beunen (0000-0001-5005-075X, Open University of the Netherlands), Verweij (0000-0002-6477-2734, University of Groningen)
Year2020
Volume5
Issue1
Pages11-21
Publication date2020-03-06
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueUrban Planning (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2183-7635 • E-ISSN: 2183-7635
PublisherCogitatio (PUBLISHER • PT)
DOI10.17645/up.v5i1.2656
OpenAlexW3010010550
LanguageEN
Citations received10
References cited64

In this article, the authors develop a perspective on the value of, and methodologies for, comparative planning research. Through comparative research, similarities and differences between planning cases and experiences can be disentangled. This opens up possibilities for learning across planning systems, and possibly even the transfer of best planning and policy practices across systems, places, or countries. Learning in governance systems is always constrained; learning in planning systems is further constrained by the characteristics of the wider governance system in which planning is embedded. Moreover, self-transformation of planning systems always takes place, not always driven by intentional learning activities of individuals and organizations, or of the system as a whole. One can strive to increase the reflexivity in planning systems though, so that the system becomes more aware of its own features, driving forces, and modes of self-transformation. This can, in turn, increase the space for intentional learning. One important source of such learning is the comparison of systems at different scales and learning from successes and failures. We place this comparative learning in the context of other forms of learning and argue that there is always space for comparative learning, despite the rigidities that characterize planning and governance. Dialectical learning is presented as the pinnacle of governance learning, into which comparative learning, as well as other forms of learning, feed

Business · Business system planning · Corporate governance · Economics · Geography · Knowledge management · Management · Management science · Process management · Reflexivity · Social science · Sociology · Computer Science · Engineering · Policy Transfer and Learning · Public Policy and Administration Research · Urban Planning and Governance · Artificial Intelligence