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 offers a robust theoretical framework for analysing continuity and change in planning institutions through concepts such as path dependence, positive feedback effects, critical junctures, and incremental institutional change. By integrating these concepts into planning history, the paper seeks to strengthen the theoretical foundations of the field, enable more systematic comparative analysis, and provide new insights into the long-term evolution of urban governance and planning systems.