Abstract:
This thesis ontologically investigates the function of planning in relation to the hegemonic ideology of neoliberalism. It argues that since planning emanated from the contradictory operations of capitalism, it largely influenced by these paradoxical characteristics. As the result, planning undertakes a paradoxical role in performing its plans and policies and often fails in adequate achievement of its aims. Urban Growth Management Policy (UGMP) is considered to provide an in-depth understanding of the function of planning under the hegemonic ideology of neoliberalism. A logic approach based on the Essex School of Discourse Analysis (ESDA) studies is applied as the methodology of the research. The method is a complicated approach taken from political studies and is applied for the first time in a planning research. The method is proposed by this thesis as it is anticipated it will bring a beneficial approach to planning whereby different logics for the possibility of a practice can be considered including the social, political and fantasmatic logics. In particular, it is considered useful for planning theory and practice because it attempts to bridge the usual dichotomies in planning, such as those of theory and practice of planning. In addition, it is worthwhile due to its intrinsic ability to propose an alternative or counter-logic for the status quo of planning with an emphasis on the contextual characteristics of empirical cases. Based on the retroductive/abductive modes of reasoning that the logic approach suggests, this research creates a critical theory of neoliberal housing policy in the form of UGMP. Then, the thesis examines the validity of the theory in two chosen case studies from Western Australia, Perth-Ellenbrook and from Iran, Tehran-Parand. The validation of the theory in two cases shows which logics of social, political and fantasmatic make a practice of UGMP possible in each case. It also shows to what extent the practice of UGMP in each case is in alignment with neoliberalism as the hegemonic ideology. Furthermore, an ontological investigation of the logics of possibility of something inherently inscribes the logics of the impossibility/vulnerability of that thing. Indeed, a logic approach provides a twofold aim for this research, which is to systematically uncover different logics of the possibilities of a practice of planning such as that of an UGMP, as well as the impossibility of that practice. Therefore, deployment of logic approach provides an appropriate tool to discuss for at least one alternative to the practice of UGMP in each case of Perth and Tehran.