Crisis and urban planning? A commentary

The author argues that the global financial crisis of 2008 did not have any lasting effect on planners. Though the crisis has stirred much political attention, it is not the crisis that has caused the decline of planning. It is rather the mainstream neo-liberal politico-economic environment that is weakening planning in society. Thus, remaining cocooned in planning theory circles and debating about the crisis will not raise the influence of planners in the real world. Planners have to acknowledge that it is not in their hands to reduce the social disparities in market-led environments. Critical planners can only articulate their concerns about growing welfare gaps; and they can mobilize the discourse about disparities, equity and social responsibility. Benefiting from the existence and influence of social media they can raise their voice, engage in activist planning initiatives, and try to convince opinion leaders and multipliers in other policy fields. They should encourage debates within the planning community about future challenges to the profession in a market-led and re-nationalizing Europe, where national egoisms dominate urban and regional policies and where Europe as a common idea is regrettably vanishing.