In the introduction, the role of sociology in urban and spatial development is critically evaluated. Although an open information flow and the participation of citizens in decision-making are widely recognised in many national systems and although it looks like formal system arrangements support the argumentative substantial rationality, it is however not difficult to notice that such ideal conditions are quite often virtual wishful thinking. Instrumental communicative techniques are in fact supporting reduced strategic-goal-oriented rationality. Such techniques present urban planning as democratic and transparent, conflicts are avoided, emerging questions are processed in a partnership mood, different institutional arrangements are invented in order to alleviate tensions etc. In fact, this technology inhibits substantial argumentative rationality. The fundamental goals are not questioned at all; instead, negligible questions are gaining priority. As a consequence, the crisis of legitimisation processes is deepening. The management of urban and spatial development is used as a practical example of such reduced rationality.
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