Abstract
This article discusses the transition of urban planning theory in the U.S.A. since World War II, demonstrating that significant structural transformation has occurred in the post war period to the present. The purpose of urban planning, aimed at elaborating processes for making rational technical decisions effectively and efficiently in order to achieve the identified goals of serving the unitary public interest, has been transformed into the process whose aims are consensus building, empowering social groups and producing intellectual, social and political capital through communicative actions which are interpretative and transformative activities on the present political and economic structure. Accordingly, the planner's role has transformed from that of making comprehensive plans based on scientific expertise from the apolitical position, into the facilitator, the mediator, or the enabler aiming at the purpose mentioned above.
