Opening the black box of participatory planning: a study of how planners handle citizens’ input

Citizen dialogues and other participatory practices are basically the norm in contemporary spatial planning. Nonetheless, what happens to citizen input after it has been collected – how is handled utilized by planners continuation of planning process described as a ‘black box’, where most stakeholders lack insight. The aim this explorative study open black box examine local professionals. This practice lacks common language form among studied municipalities, but analysis reveals that takes ‘sorting process’ which categorized, evaluated structured preparation for its integration into final plans. paper outlines basic logics considerations guide sorting process, distinguishes between two modes, have termed ‘inclusive’ ‘selective’ sorting. These modes determine categorized assessed. indicates multiple micro-decisions made throughout these decisions influence reaches formal decision-making bodies, form. results reveal power exercised municipal actors they affect destiny received input.