An advanced systems approach for planning practice in complex cities – anticipating emergence through citizens' participation: explained on the example of Central European cities in transition

Abstract

This paper explores the application of advanced systems approaches to planning practice in complex urban environments, with a focus on Central European cities in transition. These cities, shaped by layers of historical development—from medieval cores through industrialisation, wartime upheavals, and post-communist transformation—face uncertainty and intertwined socio-spatial processes. The paper critiques current urban research and planning practices for addressing isolated issues through “best practice” transfer, instead advocating for systemic approaches that capture interdependencies across structures and processes. Drawing on the system dynamics of Forrester and Vester’s biocybernetic model, the study argues for an updated framework that integrates resilience, self-organisation, and particularly emergence as core system principles. By incorporating citizens’ participation, such approaches can better anticipate and manage the uncertainties of urban transformation, offering a holistic and adaptive planning methodology for complex cities.