Taking path dependence seriously: an historical institutionalist research agenda in planning history

Abstract

This paper proposes an historical institutionalist research agenda for planning history. It argues that historical institutionalism provides a powerful framework for analysing institutional continuity and change through concepts such as path dependence, positive feedback effects and critical junctures. By applying these concepts to planning history, the paper strengthens the theoretical foundations of the field and enables more systematic comparative research into the long-term evolution of planning systems and urban governance.