The Drama of Democracy : Contention and Dispute in Community Planning

Several examples of community planning in Halifax are analyzed in a study of the nature of democratic societies. Grant studies questions such as: What arguments do people offer to influence politicians? and How do communities make decisions about appropriate uses of urban spaces?

The drama of democracy seldom plays out as literally as it does in urban planning disputes. Yet these are complex dramas in which villains aren't clearly identified, protagonists are caught with ulterior motives, and fifth business runs rampant. In this book, Jill Grant aptly uses a dramaturgical metaphor to show how community planning offers illuminating episodes of the workings of democracy.

Grant argues that planning provides a significant venue for the debate of major questions about how we govern ourselves. She illustrates her theory with two case studies of planning disputes in Halifax. By examining the language and actions of the citizens, planners, and politicians involved in these disputes, Grant explores underlying motives and concerns. Overall, this work has much to say about the nature of cultural obstacles that prevent greater democracy. The author concludes that while democracy is a valued cultural concept, its practice proves weak.

Much of the work on urban planning takes a socio-economic perspective; the cultural implications of planning are still largely unexplored. By applying a cultural analysis to contemporary case studies, this book takes up the slack, thereby providing a timely addition to existing literature.

The drama of democracy seldom plays out as literally as it does in urban planning disputes. Yet these are complex dramas in which villains aren't clearly identified, protagonists are caught with ulterior motives, and fifth business runs rampant. In this book, Jill Grant aptly uses a dramaturgical metaphor to show how community planning offers illuminating episodes of the workings of democracy. Grant argues that planning provides a significant venue for the debate of major questions about how we govern ourselves. She illustrates her theory with two case studies of planning disputes in Halifax. By examining the language and actions of the citizens, planners, and politicians involved in these disputes, Grant explores underlying motives and concerns. Overall, this work has much to say about the nature of cultural obstacles that prevent greater democracy. The author concludes that while democracy is a valued cultural concept, its practice proves weak. Much of the work on urban planning takes a socio-economic perspective; the cultural implications of planning are still largely unexplored. By applying a cultural analysis to contemporary case studies, this book takes up the slack, thereby providing a timely addition to existing literature Contents 7 Tables, Maps, Photographs, and Figures 11 Acknowledgments 13 Part 1: All the World's a Stage 17 Introduction: 'Everyone Loves a Mystery' 17 1. The Planning Drama 20 2. Stages, Actors, and Scripts 34 Part 2: Audience, Take Your Seats 59 3. Desperately Seeking Development 59 4. Planning Issues in Peninsular Halifax 70 5. Market Place Plaza 99 6. Mitchell Property 120 Part 3: The Reviews Are In 155 7. Staging Planning Activities 155 8. Command Performance 169 9. Scripts and Values 190 Part 4: Planning in a Democratic Society 213 10. Democracy in Myth and Practice 213 11. Planning Myths and Reality 224 Appendix: Glossary of Terms and Short Forms 235 Notes 239 Bibliography 249 Index 265