Planning theory develops over the year based on technological, socio and cultural change. In fact, political change also affects the development of planning theory. However, the development of planning theory philosophy is closely related with the history of science since planning itself is a science. According to Patta, throughout its history, planning has been influenced by the methods and technologies at its disposal. Since planning has commonly borrowed methods and technologies from other disciplines, its activity has been affected by broad movements in others disciplines concerns, methods, and technologies.
The history of philosophy of science was started at the same time with the beginning of renaissance era in 16th century. Basically, it was the beginning of rationalism developed by Rene Descartes and supported by Spinoza, and Leibniz. Next, in 400 years it has been developing so rapidly. Now, we are familiar with several types of philosophy such as rationalism, empiricism, criticism, idealism, vitalism, positivism, anti positivism and phenomenology. All of those are influenced by technological, socio and cultural change occurred in their era. The similar condition happens in Planning Theory history.
There are several approach used in describing the history of planning theory. Many scholars have tried to map planning history. Sujarto (2004) described the development of Planning Theory based on Industrial development. Meanwhile, Friedman (1987) described the history of planning theory into 4 types of thoughts; policy analysis, social learning, social reform, and social mobilization. The others decribed it based on several aspects such as the invention of certain planning theory, the methodology used in planning theory, prescriptive types, etc. In short paper will briefly decribe the development of planning theory based of Friedman (1987).
1. Planning as policy analysis;
This tradition occur in 1930’s influenced by logic way of management, public administration science. It is also influenced by the awakening of neo-classic economics and cybernetic technology. The supporters of this ideology believe that the best solution is produced from scientific data analysis. Other influence came from Rand Corporation in Santa Monica, California whose primary client is US Air Force (USAF). The primary purpose of planning, as public policy analysis, is to provide policy alternatives for the decision makers completed with the future consequences. In this case, planners act as analyst or technician servicing the decision makers holding political power. In this tradition, community is considered as the object of planning.
2. Planning as social learning;
Basically, this model give bigger space for the society to interact with the government through countinouly dialogues. This tradition was influenced by criticism; by critizing the fundamental of science itself. For social learning, knowledge is gained from experiences and completed by practices. In simple word, we learn about something by doing it. The primary supporter of this tardition is John Dewey who believe publc policy as semi-scientific experiment
3. Planning as social reform;
It is the institutionalization of planning practices where government play dominant role in society development. In this tradition of planning, government play importatnt role in society empowerement. In simple word, planning is part of beraucrats. The primary concern is to find the most effective way for the government in planning process. It means that planner act as technocrat. Basically, it is a top-down planning approach.
4. Planning as social mobilization;
Basically it is a form of direct community participation in planning process. Generally, beraucrats less support this type of planning since it can influence previouly determined policy. It is developed from and influenced by utopian, anarcism and marxism. It can be classified as radical planning approach where planner should be able to provide critical notes for changing situation., moreover planner should also be able to help the community in finding practical solutions in overcoming their problems. Community capacity empowerment should be encourage in discovering the strategies accuratevely. Ideologically, planners must have commitment to encourage transformation in community and they should not keep the distance with the community.
Meanwhile, Wingo (1969) in Sujarto (2004) explained the history of development planning theory based on direction of idea of growing theories. He divided planning theory into two streams; describers and prescribers. The describers are hardly tied by the things and experience in the past (the geographers), while the vision of prescribers is ideal thinking, focus to the future and try to find new concepts. The purpose of those groups principally is similar which want to improve the condition.
