The Usefulness of Normative Planning Theories in the Context of Sub-Saharan Africa

The article focuses on three contemporary and better-known normative theories of planning: communicative planning theory (Forester, Healey, Innes and others), the Just City approach (Fainstein), and those concerned with the recognition of diversity and cultural difference (Sandercock). Such theories are of great interest to planners who continue to grapple with the problem of overcoming the extreme forms of inequity, division and social breakdown that persist in the cities of Africa. The article examines some of the central assumptions underlying these theories and considers the extent to which they provide useful direction, or simply attempt to generalize a western context.