Planning across differences: collaborative planning processes for the California Central Valley's future

This dissertation examines the intersections between difference, participation, and planning processes. Rooted in scholarly conversations about deliberative democracy, collaborative planning, and nonprofit organizations in civil society, this research considers how planning practitioners can better plan across difference. Through case study research, this dissertation examines a collaborative planning process conducted by a nonprofit organization. Unlike more conventional participatory planning processes, the organization utilized scenario planning. Exercising their position in civil society, participation in the process was not open to all community members and the organization carefully selected a diverse set of participants. Findings from this research project indicate that this process, by moving away from a strict definition of rational discourse, focusing on multiple futures as opposed to a single, utopian future, and deliberately bringing together a broad cross-section of community members allowed for participants to speak freely and learn from one another’s perspectives and experiences. Experiences of process participants also demonstrate the degree to which cultural backgrounds shape participation in and expectations of planning processes. While there remains no clear answer in how to represent and respond to cultural differences in planning processes, the experiences of the organization, program staff, and community participants help scholars and practitioners move closer to planning across differences.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Regional Planning

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2010

Author dc:creator

• Zapata, Marisa A.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Hopkins, Lewis D.
• Harwood, Stacy A.
• Schwandt, Thomas A.
• Greene, Jennifer C.

• cultural difference
• public participation
• Nonprofit organizations
• planning process
• deliberative democracy
• collaborative planning

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2009 Marisa A. Zapata

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/14613

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/14613