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- Promoting Excellence in Planning Education and Research
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- Awards in Teaching, Best Published Paper, Best Congress Paper
- International, peer-reviewed, open-access journals
Recent Submissions
Proceedings of the IV World Planning Schools Congress, July 3-8th, 2016 : Global crisis, planning and challenges to spatial justice in the north and in the south
(AESOP, 2016) Randolph, Rainer
We are publishing here the extended abstracts presented at the IV WPSC. Those which were discussed in the Track Sessions, as well as a considerable number of contributions in Plenary and Special Sessions and Roundtables. Farnak Miraftab´s Opening Keynote “Insurgency, planning and the prospect of a humane urbanism” was published (in portuguese) in ANPUR´s journal Revista Brasileira de Estudos Urbanos e Regionais (Brazilian Journal of Urban and Regional Studies), v.18, n. 3 (2016), p. 363-377 (http://rbeur.anpur.org.br/rbeur/article/view/5499).
It is our conviction that these texts reflect an important panorama of ideas, thoughts, experiences and practices of the nearly 600 researchers, scientists, students and practioneers who attended the congress in Rio de Janeiro with the aim to have an unique opportunity to discuss the matter of planning with colleagues from all over the world.
As it puts our colleague Carlos Balsas in the conclusions he wrote about his experiences by participating the discussions at the congress: “Attention was directed at the need to look forward to more planning not less, more planning research not less, and more educational opportunities to strengthen urban and regional planning. … Alternative paradigms based on the radical deconstruction of prevailing knowledge sets and philosophies by some of those living in southern and northern hemispheres are making positive strides and can be confidently further developed”
Temporality in planning thought – a new turn? Short report on the round table at the AESOP Annual Congress on 10 July 2024 in Paris
(Routledge : Taylor and Francis Group, 2024) Wiechmann, Thorsten
This short report summarises the round table discussion held at the AESOP Annual Congress on 10 July 2024 in Paris, focusing on the theme “Temporality in planning thought.” The event gathered planning scholars and practitioners to reflect on whether a “temporal turn” is emerging in planning theory. Chaired by Thorsten Wiechmann, the round table featured contributions from Simin Davoudi, Raine Mäntysalo, Miriam Jensen, Gérard Hutter, and Andy Inch, each offering different perspectives on why temporality matters in planning—politically, conceptually, and practically. Key themes included time as power, strategic variability, temporal conflicts, and the emotional dimensions of future imaginaries. The discussion did not aim to define a fixed research agenda but emphasised the need for continued dialogue and project-based networking to better integrate temporal thinking in planning research and education.
Introduction: Planning and Planning Education in 2015
(Taylor & Francis, 2015) Kunzmann, Klaus R.; Koll-Schretzenmayr, Martina
In this introduction to the themed issue of disP, Klaus R. Kunzmann and Martina Koll-Schretzenmayr provide a reflective overview of spatial planning and planning education in Europe in 2015. They identify shifting political and economic contexts—including the global financial crisis, EU re-nationalisation, and urbanisation pressures—that challenge planning’s role and legitimacy. The authors present six guiding questions that informed a survey of 50 European planners on topics such as the current status of planning, dominant media themes, the gap between theory and practice, spatial disparities, educational adequacy, and the role of EU policy. The aim is to foster a multilingual, transnational dialogue on planning’s future.
Bernd Scholl — Switzerland
(Taylor & Francis, 2015) Scholl, Bernd
In this national commentary, Bernd Scholl reflects on the spatial development challenges facing Switzerland, including urban sprawl, internal densification, and the pressures of transit traffic. He emphasises the need for coordinated planning across all levels of government in a complex federal system. The article discusses the role of informal and cooperative planning processes, especially in small and mid-sized municipalities. Scholl highlights the integration of research, education, and practice, and calls for spatial planning education that is inter- and transdisciplinary, adaptable, and responsive to real-world problems. He advocates for European cooperation in planning, rooted not in standardisation but in the richness of cultural diversity and mutual learning.
Karel Maier — Czechia
(Taylor & Francis, 2015) Maier, Karel
In this national profile, Karel Maier outlines the legal and political framework of spatial planning in Czechia. He describes the dual nature of planning: legally strong but politically contested, especially at the local level where planners are often accused of serving developers rather than communities. The article highlights tensions between environmental concerns and economic interests, the growing influence of civic groups, and the use of the internet for planning activism. Maier also discusses the limited theoretical foundation of planning in Czechia, the weak professional identity due to the absence of specialised educational programmes, and the modest impact of EU guidance, which often results in superficial compliance. The article calls for a gradual convergence in European planning practice through shared ethics and improved education.