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@PHDTHESIS{Fischer:1018574,
author = {Fischer, Lea},
othercontributors = {Förster, Agnes and Polívka, Jan},
title = {{D}ie {E}rwartungen hinter {B}ürgerbeteiligung. {P}lanende
{V}erwaltungen und die {K}onstruktion der
{B}ürger:innenrolle in {P}lanungsprozessen : eine
transformative {F}orschungsarbeit},
school = {Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen},
type = {Dissertation},
address = {Aachen},
publisher = {RWTH Aachen University},
reportid = {RWTH-2025-07872},
pages = {1 Online-Ressource : Illustrationen},
year = {2025},
note = {Veröffentlicht auf dem Publikationsserver der RWTH Aachen
University; Dissertation, Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische
Hochschule Aachen, 2025},
abstract = {The significance of citizen participation in planning
processes is a topic of controversial discussion. On one
hand, the normative claim to design urban planning together
and on an equal footing with citizens is widely shared among
planning scholars. On the other hand, questions arise about
how far this claim should and can go, given the
institutional framework of a representative democracy, in
which spatial planning is embedded as an administrative
task. This is primarily an academic discussion. For this
dissertation, the perspective of those in municipal urban
planning offices who engage directly with citizens is
particularly interesting. The question examined is: How do
urban planning officers interpret the role of citizens in
planning processes? The dissertation seeks to answer this
question in an exploratory approach. It is a work rooted in
spatial planning with a social science methodology and a
transformative impact claim. The research focuses on small
medium-sized cities. Firstly, based on the theory of
organizational sensemaking, a concept is developed that
outlines how the examined construction processes occur
within the urban planning office (framed as an
organization). Experiences regarding citizen behaviour are
viewed and evaluated by members of the planning
administration through the lens of their role expectations.
Secondly, an exploratory qualitative study is conducted in
two medium-sized cities in North Rhine-Westphalia. The
specific role expectations and assessments of the planning
administrations are reconstructed according to Grounded
Theory methodology. This involved conducting expert
interviews and group discussions with planners, observing
their work, and participating in observations at citizen
participation events. The research reveals interpretative
patterns prevalent in the urban planning offices and
develops theoretical explanatory approaches: It shows that
planning law plays a significant role in how professional
administrative planners interpret their relationship with
citizens. Here, the planning administration itself is seen
as an entity that makes factually informed planning
decisions with a focus on the common good. Citizen
participation is mainly viewed as a means through which
citizens provide information. The central interpretative
pattern of the administrative urban planners strongly aligns
with this legally embedded mental model and works as a
cross-situational standard. However, members of the urban
planning offices experience constant disappointments
concerning their role expectations as citizens behave in
another way. Citizens tend to seek political influence
rather than merely supporting administrative procedures.
Also, professional administrative planners are not always
able to act according to their expectations, finding
themselves in a dilemma between their own political logic of
action and their self-understanding. It becomes clear that
conflicting, often unfulfillable expectations contribute to
citizen participation becoming a challenge for all involved.
The PhD project sees itself not only as a social science
analysis but also as a transformative research project aimed
at reflecting on role expectations concerning citizen
participation together with research partners in the case
study administrations. Thirdly, a serious game was designed
and carried out to this purpose. This transformative
research approach opens new perspectives for organizational
development of administrations as well as for reflecting on
the research process itself.},
cin = {212110},
ddc = {710},
cid = {$I:(DE-82)212110_20140620$},
pnm = {Graduiertenkolleg "Mittelstadt als Mitmachstadt.
Qualitativer Wandel durch neue Kulturen des Stadtmachens"
(01000076-002)},
pid = {G(RBSG)01000076-002},
typ = {PUB:(DE-HGF)11},
doi = {10.18154/RWTH-2025-07872},
url = {https://publications.rwth-aachen.de/record/1018574},
}
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