I am currently a Ph.D. candidate in Urban Planning at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign.  Dissertation topic:
"THE BROADER SOCIAL NETWORK OF COMMUNITY PLANNING:
AN INVESTIGATION INTO WHO PLANS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL AND HOW THEY DO IT "

Key research theories employed are continuous planning process, social networks, autopoiesis (self-organization of a system), open systems, social mobilization, social captial, and adoption and diffusion.

ABSTRACT:

Rational planning is a myth. The inability of the planning field to empirically define and conceptually understand the social networks and communicative methods involved in the community planning process often disables practitioners from effectively engaging community members and subsequently undermines the efficacy of rational plans created.

Through an unstructured survey this research aims to map and analyze the social sub-networks of community planning.

It is the assertion of this research the profession is not recognizing or effectively engaging the informal social sub-network operating in the continuous planning process, the process "in-between" rational comprehensive planning. In fact, the continuous planning process is competing, overriding, and sometimes being done in lieu of it. The result is a chasm between utopian long-rang rational planning processes and the reality of how community members are actually planning and operationalizing their short-term goals.

Informal Planning Networks

The History of Coffeeshops

Culture and Planning

Open Systems Planning

The Decade American Culture was Suburban

Master's Thesis