Urban Planners, Wired for Change?

Abstract

What do elites really mean when they display positive attitudes toward increased citizen participation via ICTs? Are they aiming for institutional change or the reinforcement of existing institutions? What are the assumptions that underlie and condition support for e-participa-tion? In addressing these questions, this article draws upon a survey questionnaire mapping the support for e-participation in the field of urban planning, targeting the heads of the planning departments in all Swedish local governments in 2006. The results show confusing or conflicting elite attitudes towards participation, supporting as well as challenging the classic normative theories of participatory democracy and communicative planning.

Key Words:

• E-participation
• urban planning
• democracy