Shaping Cities: Politics, Theory and Practice module (UP21004)

Cities are shaped by the interactions among socio-economic and political frameworks. They are also shaped by planning concepts, planning systems and common practices. You will explore these aspects and their interactions to learn what shapes cities.

You will learn about the influence of changing political ideologies. You will also cover how various theoretical dimensions are interpreted.

You will see how these explain the different relationships between state, society, and the market in shaping cities.

What you will learn

In this module, you will:

• explore the main UK political frameworks since 1945
• learn about social theories to understand change in cities
• explore a range of theories and ideas in planning, and their links to practice

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

• describe the role of theory in planning and its links to practice in developing cities
• show your understanding of the role of politics in shaping thoughts and concepts for city development
• discuss evolving social theories that explain societal changes in shaping cities
• understand the need for negotiation and collaboration in planning practice
• apply critical thinking in planning
• link theory and practice in planning

Assignments / assessment

• individual 1,500-word critical essay (50%)
• 2,500 word report (40%)
• 20-minute group presentation (10%)

This module does not have a final exam.

Teaching methods / timetable

You will learn by taking a hands-on approach. This will involve taking part in tutorials and practical sessions.

Learning material is provided through videos, review notes, examples, and tutorial questions.