a critical evaluation on the concept of justice in planning process

In line with all these debates, different approaches of planning have begun since
the 1960s to involve considerations of justice discussions in terms of the essence,
process and results of planning. Among these approaches, three of these can be
mentioned as Communicative, Collaborative Planning, Just City and the New Urbanism
approaches.
• Communicative-Collaborative Approaches
In this model, rationality is depicted, in pursue of Habermas, as reasoning
reached by the intersubjective mutual effort to comprehend each other. In this approach,
the role of planner within the process of planning is defined as mediating between
stakeholders. Different from the role of a technical expert the traditional rational model
has given to the planner, in this approach the planner undertakes the assistant role in
establishing consensus between different points of views by listening to different
experiences. The aim of the model is democratization of the planning process. The
model envisages a deliberative reconciliation where no stakeholder is dominant.
Contrary to the traditional model, there exist no single definition of benefit and
rationality. In this case, a just process is considered as those processes, which are
arrived by reconciliation between different rationalities (Fainstein, 2002).
• Just City Approach
This approach initiates the debate of justice pertaining to the essence of
planning. Effort is spent to regard the matter concerned with who the determining ones
and winners in planning activity are, from a political economy perspective without
falling into any economical reduction. From an political economy perspective, the
emphasis on nature of a good city is evaluated together with the impacts upon
distribution of social benefits and the culture-based determinants. In this approach,
participation of powerless groups to the decision making process and the inequalities
emerging as result of planning are taken into consideration (Fainstein, 2002).
• The New Urbanism
In creation of a desired, reasonable physical pattern of a city, the adopted
approach is design-centered. The damages caused by market-led urban development
upon the society and city, the homogenous structure of modern city and urban sprawl
are all criticized. In response to these developments, the proposals are fostered by
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