Government or governance of urban planning? : Issues and evidence from Dublin

Abstract

The objective of this thesis is to contribute to the understanding of the urban environment, more specifically its planning and governing processes through the empirical investigation of the notion of governance. The first part of the thesis provides the theoretical and methodological research frameworks, focusing on continental and non-continental European context. Emphasis is placed on notions embedded within the concept of governance, primarily decision-making and multifaceted actions of multiple actors (participation, representation and accountability) as well as institutional changes and rearrangements (processes of governing, networking and partnerships).