Book of Abstracts: Planning for Cities in the 21st Century – Opportunities and Challenges WPSC 2001 – Book of Abstracts

Abstract

This Book of Abstracts brings together the abstracts presented at the World Planning Schools Congress 2001 (WPSC 2001), held in Shanghai, China, from 11 to 15 July 2001. Organised jointly by ACSP, AESOP, APSA and ANZAPS, and hosted by the College of Architecture & Urban Planning at Tongji University, the Congress represented the first global gathering of planning schools and planning scholars from all continents.

Framed by the overarching theme “Planning for Cities in the 21st Century: Opportunities and Challenges”, the volume reflects the intellectual diversity and international scope of contemporary planning research and education at the turn of the millennium. The abstracts cover a broad spectrum of topics, including globalization and regional development, public participation and governance, planning theory and history, sustainability and environmental planning, housing and community development, infrastructure and transportation, urban design, planning law, planning education, and the application of information and communication technologies in planning practice.

The collection documents approximately 650 peer-reviewed abstracts organised into thematic tracks and sessions, illustrating both established debates and emerging concerns within urban and regional planning across different geographical, institutional, and cultural contexts. As such, the volume provides a valuable historical snapshot of planning scholarship and educational priorities at the beginning of the 21st century, while also highlighting the Congress’s role in fostering international academic exchange, comparative perspectives, and long-term cooperation among planning schools worldwide.