a critical evaluation on the concept of justice in planning process

CHAPTER 2
THE FRAMEWORK OF JUSTICE CONCEPT
In this part of the study conceptual considerations accompanying the <strong>evaluation</strong>s
on urban planning field will be examined. In this frame, firstly the justice definitions are
handled and justice theories and arguments which came on agenda after 1970’s.
As justice mostly was evaluated with the state and structure of the state and
together with the rights, freedoms, interests and equality within this structure,
transformation of these values within the development process of Liberal Nation State
constitute another subject of this chapter. It is considered important that <strong>evaluation</strong> of
the state and its institutions/tools that form one of the tools in the realization of formal
processes of justice plays an important role in understanding the concept of “formal
justice”. This type of consideration is thought as a necessary factor in the <strong>evaluation</strong> of
formal justice that evolves with modern state and legitimate justice. Therefore, subjects
like liberal development of the state in understanding the concept of justice, state as an
organizing mechanism, and <strong>evaluation</strong> of right, freedom, interest and equality
approaches defined within this development are also covered in this chapter.
From viewpoint of Urban Planning discipline <strong>evaluation</strong>s about justice on urban
area which came into agenda in the last 30 years and some of the critics about planning
also are included into this chapter. It is thought that with these considerations a general
perspective about the new directions of planning discipline can be drawn.
2.1. Definitions of Justice Concept
In the monolingual (Turkish) dictionary 5 the definition of justice concept is
given as compliance with laws. When justice is defined as legal rights and state
organizations, the concepts of law and justice are replaceable. However, such a
replacement does not adequately clarify the context or the meaning of justice beyond
laws (Çeçen;1993;18). In the definitions that stress the fact that these two concepts are
5 “1. Principle or action of giving the rights defined by laws to every person and not touch this right in
anyway; tüze; 2. State organizations in practicing tüze. 3. Equality” (Turkish Dictionary;(Türkçe Sözlük)
1974; p.9)
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