This thoughtful study has a two-fold purpose. The first is to examine the close relationship between the philosophy of American pragmatism and the idea of planning, and the second is to explore how to approach or think about recalcitrant social problems. Contemporary society's primary response to the issue of social problems is to turn to professional expertise. No sooner is a problem identified than a profession emerges to claim it. But intractable social problems, such as poverty or racism, show the limits of professional social inquiry. Is it the method of inquiry that is at fault, or does the failure lie in a simplistic and narrow view of reason? In exploring these questions, the author turns to the pragmatic philosophy of Charles Pierce and John Dewey to develop a coherent approach to such problems. She concludes that the lasting and meaningful changes needed to address the major problems we face today call for the cultivation of a culture of democratic planning that values inclusive communities, social and environmental justice, and public, practical knowledge.

The Elgar Companion to Sustainable Cities provides a comprehensive framework for understanding and applying the methods and strategies for cities to attain a more sustainable future.Against a backdrop of unprecedented levels of urbanization, 21st century cities across the globe share mutual concerns for the challenges they face. This Companion focuses on the importance of the city as a critical building block for a more sustainable future within broader subnational, national and continental contexts, and ultimately, within a global systems context. It discusses the sustainable strategies being devised, as well as the methods and tools for achieving them. Examples of social, economic, political and environmental sustainable policy strategies are presented and the extent to which they actually increase sustainability is analyzed. Topics explored include compact cities and urban metabolism; environmental justice; water resources planning and the impact of climate change on industry, food policy and urban design. This book will appeal to academics and students of planning, public policy and administration, as well as environmental and urban studies. It will also be of interest to those working in urban planning and sustainable development professions. Contributors: L. Baker, T. Banerjee, E.J Blakley, H. Blanco, M.R. Boswell, H. Brattelbo, R.F. Callahan, K. Chapple, N. Cohen, E. Dreps, D.J. Fiorino, A.I. Greve, R.J. Jackson, B. Jimenez Cisneros, C. Kennedy, G.A. Keoleian, D.A. Mazmanian, A. Miller, J.P. Newell, P. Newman, L.K. Nijaki, C.P. Ozawa, M. Pastor, M. Pisano, K.E. Portney, A. Rose, T.L. Seale, B. Tomlinson, K.S. Wolske, M. Xu, R. Zimmerman, M. Zint

The Elgar Companion to Sustainable Cities provides a comprehensive framework for understanding and applying the methods and strategies for cities to attain a more sustainable future.Against a backdrop of unprecedented levels of urbanization, 21st century cities across the globe share mutual concerns for the challenges they face. This Companion focuses on the importance of the city as a critical building block for a more sustainable future within broader subnational, national and continental contexts, and ultimately, within a global systems context. It discusses the sustainable strategies being devised, as well as the methods and tools for achieving them. Examples of social, economic, political and environmental sustainable policy strategies are presented and the extent to which they actually increase sustainability is analyzed. Topics explored include compact cities and urban metabolism; environmental justice; water resources planning and the impact of climate change on industry, food policy and urban design. This book will appeal to academics and students of planning, public policy and administration, as well as environmental and urban studies. It will also be of interest to those working in urban planning and sustainable development professions. Contributors: L. Baker, T. Banerjee, E.J Blakley, H. Blanco, M.R. Boswell, H. Brattelbo, R.F. Callahan, K. Chapple, N. Cohen, E. Dreps, D.J. Fiorino, A.I. Greve, R.J. Jackson, B. Jimenez Cisneros, C. Kennedy, G.A. Keoleian, D.A. Mazmanian, A. Miller, J.P. Newell, P. Newman, L.K. Nijaki, C.P. Ozawa, M. Pastor, M. Pisano, K.E. Portney, A. Rose, T.L. Seale, B. Tomlinson, K.S. Wolske, M. Xu, R. Zimmerman, M. Zint

This Companion presents a distinctive approach to environmental planning by: situating the debate in its social, cultural, political and institutional context; being attentive to depth and breadth of discussions; providing up-to-date accounts of the contemporary practices in environmental planning and their changes over time; adopting multiple theoretical and analytical lenses and different disciplinary approaches; and drawing on knowledge and expertise of a wide range of leading international scholars from across the social science disciplines and beyond. It aims to provide critical reviews of the state-of-the-art theoretical and practical approaches as well as empirical knowledge and understandings of environmental planning; encourage dialogue across disciplines and national policy contexts about a wide range of environmental planning themes; and, engage with and reflect on politics, policies, practices and decision-making tools in environmental planning. The Companion provides a deeper understanding of the interdependencies between the themes in the four parts of the book (Understanding 'the environment', Environmental governance, Critical environmental pressures and responses, and Methods and approaches to environmental planning) and its 37 chapters. It presents critical perspectives on the role of meanings, values, governance, approaches and participations in environmental planning. Situating environmental planning debates in the wider ecological, political, ethical, institutional, social and cultural debates, it aims to shine light on some of the critical journeys that we have traversed and those that we are yet to navigate and their implications for environmental planning research and practice. The Companion provides a reference point mapping out the terrain of environmental planning in an international and multidisciplinary context. The depth and breadth of discussions by leading international scholars make it relevant to and useful for those who are curious about, wish to learn more, want to make sense of, and care for the environment within the field of environmental planning and beyond.