Reflecting on Collaborative Planning Theory under Digital Transition: Beyond Communicative and Agonistic Approaches

Abstract

This chapter reflects on the limitations of communicative and agonistic approaches to collaborative planning in the digital era. Communicative theory emphasizes consensus and the neutralization of power through rational communication, while agonistic theory underscores dissent, plurality, and power struggles. Yet both provide limited guidance for practice, especially in diverse contexts. To move beyond this divide, the chapter proposes a broader reconceptualization of collaborative planning that engages with three key dimensions. First, insights from common-pool resource studies illuminate how institutional design and diverse types of rules shape collective action. Second, a multidimensional view of power—encompassing power sources, arenas, and network power—helps reveal complex power dynamics. Third, concepts of framing and discursive opportunities explain how conflicts, identities, and legitimacy are constructed and contested within digitally mediated and fragmented public spheres. Together, these perspectives provide more contextualized guidance for collaborative planning in varied institutional and digital environments.