Beyond rationality: the role of emotions in communicative planning

The impact of emotional dynamics has been overlooked within the field of planning. Traditional communicative planning theory, rooted in Habermas’ model of communication, typically propose that emotions should be managed to facilitate rational discussions that lead to logical agreements. Conversely, some research contends that emotions are not illogical or hazardous elements to be restrained during deliberation; instead, they are a topic requiring thorough investigation to create improved public forums. We investigate this tension by analysing facework during a land-use dispute at at the Gongjin Elementary School site in Seoul, South Korea. Our analysis reveals that facework not only impedes the establishment of an ideal speech situation founded on rationality and sincerity but also encourages a cooperative attitude among participants to facilitate consensus-building. We conclude that integrating emotional dynamics into communicative planning theory is essential to more accurately represent the realities of planning practice.