The Network Society - Annotated Bibliography Example

Albrechts, L., & Mandelbaum, S. (2005). Communicative Action and the Network Society: A Pragmatic Marriage? The network society: A new context for planning? New York, NY: Taylor & Francis. pp9-23 In this article, Albrechts and Mandelbaum discuss theoretical and practical perspectives on the contemporary organization of social, economic, cultural, political and physical spaces. In general, the authors seek to investigate on the challenges and problems faced by urban and regional planning. It shows different reflections whether the existing network society should be the new context for planning. It further gives explanations on some challenges that endanger the image of the network society, as well as the investigation of the characteristics of the network society that are defective and needs improvements. Through the proceedings, which is one of the basis of the book, research agenda were formulated to answer to provide answers to existing gaps and hurdles in the network society and identify areas that necessitates planning strategies. This book is designed for graduate students taking up courses in urban studies, city and regional planning, and urban design. In particular, the article aims for the assessment of the network society whether it poses challenges for planning and planning theory. It shows communicative action in restoring unconstrained values. The book provides sufficient insight in its five sections which looks at models of the Network Society and the impact of physical networks. It thoroughly discusses challenges for Planners raised by society's increased reliance on new technology and examines local networks including community networks and the possibilities of setting up local networks for disaster recovery. It also tackles the relevance of the civil society if interpreted in the context of democracy for the network society. Finally, it ends by comparing spatial and policy networks and looking at the institutions involved in them. de Roo, G., & Silva, E. (2010). Being or Becoming? That is the Question! Confronting Complexity with Contemporary Planning Theory. A planner's encounter with complexity. Burlington, VT: Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. pp19-40 In this article, de Roo and Silva present various understandings of complexity and how the environment is considered accordingly. One of the considerations that the article expounds on is the environment as subject to processes of continuous change, being either progressive or destructive, evolving non-linearly and alternating between stable and dynamic periods. It also elaborates the process of evolution and co-evolution as an expected process in response to changes in the environment that is adaptive, self-organizing, robust and flexible. The authors argue that environments confronted with discontinuous, non-linear evolving processes might be more real than the idea that an environment is simply a creation of the planner. Likewise, they argue that recognizing the complexity of our environment offers an entirely new perspective on our world and our environment, on planning theory and practice. This article caters largely to professional planners as it emphasizes the interplay of planning and complexity from the perspective of contemporary planning theory. It also presents critical assessments of planning theory and practice through interdisciplinary debate about complexity thinking. The perspective of complexity thinking and looking at the planning discipline, and clarifying the facets of complexity in planning have been established in this book. Conceptual and theoretical developments towards more applied examples are identified in order to see the interplay of planning and complexity in practice. Finally, the book also accentuates the importance of complexity in planning, clarifies many of the concepts and theories, presents examples on planning and complexity, and proposes new ideas and methods for planning. Grant, J. (2006).Reconciling new urbanism’s theory and practice. Planning the good community: New urbanism in theory and practice. New York, NY: Taylor & Francis. pp175-230 In this book, Grant examines new approaches to urbanism both through theory and practice which was presented to undergraduate and graduate students in Urban Planning. The author takes a critical look at how new urbanism lives up to its theory and its practice, and asks whether new urban approaches offer a viable path to the good community. Examples presented and cited in the articles of this book were drawn from highly urbanized countries such as the United States, Canada, Britain, Germany, Belgium, Norway, and Japan. It also explores new urban approaches in a wide range of settings taking into consideration the current trends and advancements of the human society. The book mirrors the relationship between the movement for urban villages and an urban renaissance that has spread in the UK and Europe. It also considers onset of the 'New Urbanism' movement in the United States and Canada. It is further stated in the book whether the issues like power, democracy, spatial patterns, and globalization which are the driving force of the contemporary planning theory have received adequate attention in new urban approaches. The book also tackles questions of whether urbanism would offer a persuasive normative theory of urban development that is expected to shape the planning practice for the coming years. Moreover, it also presents investigations of the possibility that design paradigms cannot transcend cultural origins in a particular place and time. The author concludes the potential of planning to create and establish beautiful and attractive urban districts and even come up with the formula for planning the good community. Here’s the MLA format because in the ORDERS PAGE you specified MLA format but here you say APA so just delete whichever you don’t need =) Read More