The Politics of Planning – Power, controversies, and legacies, 7.5 credits

Main field of study

Course level

Advancement level

Course offered for

• Master's Programme in Strategic Urban and Regional Planning

Entry requirements

• Bachelor's degree in urban and regional planning equivalent to a Swedish Kandidatexamen
  or 
  other relevant subject area.
• English corresponding to the level of English in Swedish upper secondary education (Engelska 6). 
  Exemption from Swedish

Intended learning outcomes

On completion of the course, the student at advanced level should be able to:

• describe and explain key concepts and theories in critical governance studies.
• identify values and ideological assumptions in methods and models used in processes of urban and regional planning, including mechanisms of depoliticisation, inclusion, exclusion and oppression in management of conflict
• map the key actors, and critically evaluate different perspectives in controversies related to urban and regional planning
• research and present case studies of public controversies over urban and regional planning projects.

Course content

The course introduces theories that highlight values and ideologies that permeate governance practices in general, and urban and regional planning in particular. It relates studies of concrete planning projects to governance theory. The cases illustrate how power relations become visible in urban and regional planning processes and manifested in the built environment. The course covers conflicts in urban and regional planning, such as over the historical legacy of infrastructures or over structures of participation and how these conflicts are managed through different mechanisms, such as depoliticisation or exclusion/silencing. 

Teaching and working methods

The teaching at the course consists of lectures, seminars, group work and oral presentations. Homework and independent study are a necessary complement to the course. 
Language of instruction: English

Examination

The course is examined through:

• Individual written assignment: EC
• Active participation in seminars: UG
• Individual oral presentation: UG
• Group assignment: UG

Passing the course (E) requires at a mininum grade E on all examination. Higher grades are based on the individual written assignment. 
 

Detailed information can be found in the study guide.

If special circumstances prevail, and if it is possible with consideration of the nature of the compulsory component, the examiner may decide to replace the compulsory component with another equivalent component.

If the LiU coordinator for students with disabilities has granted a student the right to an adapted examination for a written examination in an examination hall, the student has the right to it.

If the coordinator has recommended for the student an adapted examination or alternative form of examination, the examiner may grant this if the examiner assesses that it is possible, based on consideration of the course objectives.

An examiner may also decide that an adapted examination or alternative form of examination if the examiner assessed that special circumstances prevail, and the examiner assesses that it is possible while maintaining the objectives of the course.

Students failing an exam covering either the entire course or part of the course twice are entitled to have a new examiner appointed for the reexamination.

Students who have passed an examination may not retake it in order to improve their grades.

Grades

Other information

Planning and implementation of a course must take its starting point in the wording of the syllabus. The course evaluation included in each course must therefore take up the question how well the course agrees with the syllabus. 

The course is conducted in such a way that there are equal opportunities with regard to sex, transgender identity or expression, ethnicity, religion or other belief, disability, sexual orientation and age.

If special circumstances prevail, the vice-chancellor may in a special decision specify the preconditions for temporary deviations from this course syllabus, and delegate the right to take such decisions.

About teaching and examination language

The teaching language is presented in the Overview tab for each course. The examination language relates to the teaching language as follows: 

• If teaching language is “Swedish”, the course as a whole could be given in Swedish, or partly, or as a whole, in English. Examination language is Swedish, but parts of the examination can be in English.
• If teaching language is “English”, the course as a whole is taught in English. Examination language is English.
• If teaching language is “Swedish/English”, the course as a whole will be taught in English if students without prior knowledge of the Swedish language participate. Examination language is Swedish or English depending on teaching language.

Department