The exchange of planning ideas from Europe to the USA after the Second World War: introductory thoughts and a call for further research

Abstract

The transnational exchange of planning ideas after the Second World War was multi-directional. As this special issue demonstrates, while American concepts spread globally there was also a steady transfer of European ideas to the USA. European émigrés in the USA and American professionals explored the reconstruction of European downtowns, particularly in Northern Europe. This special issue builds on a growing interest in transnational planning history, including a desire to develop research and writing methods. The current issue contains an overview of secondary literature (Wakeman), a careful investigation of post-war professional transatlantic dialogue (Joch), research on the International Federation for Housing and Planning conference held in The Hague in 1958 (Wagner), and an examination of the term and concept of urban design throughout the Anglophone world (Orillard). The introduction also proposes further directions for research that consciously engages with changing global contexts, and studies their impact on planning beyond physical, theoretical, temporal or other boundaries, for example, discussing planners and plans that crossed the schism of the Cold War. It also calls for global integration of research tools and collaboration among researchers in the field.