Power and politics in the planning system: a political economy approach using evidence from Ireland

Abstract

This paper examines the interconnections between the planning system, political power, and the property development sector in Ireland, particularly in the aftermath of recent property crashes. While urban governance structures fostering close ties between politicians, officials, and developers are often criticised for undermining democracy and privileging private capital over the public good, the paper argues that such relations are inherent to the planning process within advanced capitalist societies. Drawing on Marxist political economy and Chomskyan perspectives on power, planning is analysed as an activity of the capitalist state, inherently linking the political and economic spheres. The study employs stakeholder interviews with Irish urban planners to explore how power relations emerge among competing actors, the mechanisms of exerting influence, and the ways these dynamics shape outcomes in the built environment. The findings highlight the structural entanglement of politics and economics in planning practice.