The Crisis of Trust and Planning

Abstract

Trust, it has been argued, has been declining in government, institutions and professions. For some, this has become significant enough to diagnose a “crisis of trust”. Planning systems and planners have not been immune from this growing sense of mistrust which not only has implications for planners as professionals, but also for planning as an activity. This article explores the consequences of the “crisis of trust” for planning and planners. In doing so, it sets out to understand why this crisis has arisen, and identifies four main theses (the rise of the risk society, the rise of the pluralistic society, the rise of the rights-based society and the rise of advanced liberalism). Each thesis is discussed in relation to general changes in society and the implications for planning and planners. It is concluded that whilst narrow views of trust may help us focus on individual and community relationships, a wider notion of trust may be valuable for its focus on values and common goals. Furthermore, problems of the rise of auditing and systems of control especially within the context of advanced liberalism and the rise of the pluralistic society are identified as having particular purchase on both the decline of trust in planning and how we might seek to restore trust.

Keywords:

• Planning
• trust
• professionalism
• auditing

Notes

1. It should be noted that in the UK, a distinct planning profession emerged during the 20th century spurred on by an increased role for the state in managing development and formalised through bodies such as the Royal Town Planning Institute.

2. See Hardin (2001).

3. See also Ignatieff (2000).