The Tensions of Transparency in Urban and Environmental Planning

Abstract

Government transparency is generally uncontroversial, intuitively appealing, and held to be a cornerstone of planning practice. This article systematically reviews planning scholars’ treatment of government transparency in the twenty-first century. We find that transparency frequently underpins key theoretical constructs and policy prescriptions, but scholars rarely define or operationalize the term and generally treat it as unproblematic. We then identify how transparency requirements can conflict with the goals of accountability, participation, and inclusion, and we conclude by discussing the implications for assessing the role of transparency in social change.