Course Syllabus

COURSE SYLLABUS

Title: PLAN6088: INTRODUCTION to INTERNATIONAL PLANNING

Semester: Fall 2022

Instructor: Ebru Gencer

Day and Time: Mondays (1-3pm)

Course Description

This course introduces theories, policies, and practices of international planning and development. Through readings, discussions, and presentation of case studies, students will observe how theory and policies come to life as or contradict with the ongoing planning and development processes in the international context. Students will also learn about practical tools and gain knowledge that will allow them to critically compare and discuss different planning environments and envision better planning practices for the future of equitable, resilient, and sustainable cities.

The course will have two distinct sections. In the first part, the course will explore international planning and development with a historical lens and will examine the theories, policies and practices that have led to the current international planning and development context. The explorations will include a) conditions that led to the birth of model town planning and the modernist planning models that were exported for planning and development in the “developing” world; b) the impact of globalization and postmodern planning and development on the urban context; c) global frameworks and institutions and their impact on planning and development at large; and d) planning and development in the context of disasters and climate crisis.

In the second section, the course will provide a comparative analysis of cross-cutting issues of governance, culture, housing, and infrastructure, while focusing on climate vulnerability, equitable and resilient development for all. The course will finalize by bringing all the previous discussions together to envision more equitable, resilient, and sustainable futures and cities.

The course uses theories, concepts, and case examples to explore challenges and new directions for the field of planning. Case study explorations on each topic will be preceded with reading reflections that will be guided by questions from the instructor. Case studies will include a variety of global practices ranging from those in developed or in developing nations; or large- to medium- and small-sized city settings. When available, a practitioner from an international institution may also join to discuss challenges they encounter in practice and the enabling conditions that allow for the success of planning. Students will be asked to write individual response papers, lead discussions, and work in teams to develop a city case study.

Learning Objectives:

Key learning objectives for students is to understand the multiple ways planning takes place in different local socio-economic, political, and physical conditions, while at the same time being influenced by global trends such as pandemics, globalization, and climate crises. The students will learn to critically assess the international and local contexts in which planning takes place and learn to choose strategies and tools in accordance with those contexts. Students will also understand the various roles planning professionals take and innovatively think about alternative planning and policy approaches that can facilitate the development of equitable, resilient, and sustainable cities in the global contexts.

Methodology:

The course will follow a seminar structure, including a presentation by the instructor followed by class discussions. Students will have required readings each week and will be expected to be prepared to discuss these readings in class. They will have a chance to choose specific weekly topics for which they will prepare response papers and lead class discussions. In addition, they will work in groups to prepare a city case study report and make a mid-term and final presentation.

Course Organization: Background Reading Material will be uploaded at CANVAS.

Note: Further details of the assignments will be provided in class. Reading material may be subject to change

Course Grading:

10% Class Attendance and participation: Students will be prepared with reading material and participate in class discussions.

20% Discussion Leads: Students will choose 2 weeks where they will lead discussions in class.

20% Response Papers: Discussion Lead students will write 2 response papers based on their chosen weekly subjects and readings.

30% Case Study Reports: Students will work in teams to develop a case study (city of their choice) on international planning and development. Students will present a mid-term report and a final report. (10% mid-term report, 20% final report)

20% Case Study Presentations: Students will present their case studies in mid-term and at the end of the course. (10% mid-term presentations, 10% final presentation)

Course Schedule

WEEK 1 (September 12): Course Overview and Organization

Assignment: No reading and research/response paper this week.

WEEK 2 (September 19): From Modernist Planning to Colonial Development: The Origins of International Planning

Assignment: No assignment or class leads this week. Students should come to class prepared with background readings.

WEEK 3 (September 26): Globalization and Postmodernist Planning and Development

Assignment for Discussion Lead: Planning for Whom? Elite-Driven Development in Highly Stratified Urban Environments and the Role of Personal Values (Sana’a, Yemen).

WEEK 4 (October 3): The Impacts of Global Policy Frameworks and Institutions on International Planning and Development

Assignment for Discussion Lead: Food for All: Policy Linking Food Insecurity and Farmer’s Livelihoods. Location (Belo Horizonte, Brazil)

October 10: Columbus Day – Indigenous People’s Day – No Class

WEEK 5 (October 17): International Planning and Development in the Context of Disaster Risks and Climate Crisis

Assignment for Discussion Lead: Watersheds (Tijuana)

WEEK 6 (October 24): Additional Class on Disasters and Risk

WEEK 7 (October 31): The Role of Culture and Traditional Knowledge in International Planning and Development

Guest Lecturer: Rohit Jigyasu, International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM)

Assignment for All: Mid-term reports due

WEEK 8 (November 7): Student Mid-Term Presentations

WEEK 9 (November 14): Infrastructure in the International Planning and Development Context

Guest Lecturer: Steven Rubinyi, the World Bank

Assignment for Discussion Lead: Bus Rapid Transit Planning (Jinan, China)

WEEK 10 (November 21): Housing and Land: Informal Settlements and Inclusive Planning

Assignment for Discussion Lead: Negotiating Institutional Pluralism. (Ghana)

WEEK 11 (November 28): Urban Governance in the International Planning and Development Context

Assignment for Discussion Lead: Metropolitan Region Green-Belt Planning (Medellin, Colombia)

WEEK 12 (December 5): Ways Forward: International Planning and Development for Equitable, Resilient, and Sustainable Cities and Futures

Assignment: No assignment or class leads this week. Students should come to class prepared with background readings.

WEEK 13 (December 12): Final Student Presentations

Guest Critique: Amaia Celaya Alvarez, UN-Habitat

Assignment for All: Final Student Presentations and Final Reports.