1. The Political in Governance and Planning [Ayda Eraydin & Klaus Frey] Part 1: Existing and Emerging Paradigms on Spatial Planning and Governance: A Critical Evaluation 2. Crisis in Planning Theory: Is the Political a Way Out of the Impasse in Planning? [Ayda Eraydin & Tuna Täan-Kok] 3. Planning and Governance: Towards Radical Political Approaches [Rainer Randolph & Klaus Frey] Part 2: Conflict in Governance and Planning Practices: Problems of Post-Political Trends 4. Multi-Level Power Relations and Planning Conflicts in a `Land of Exception¿: The Case of the Sughereta di Niscemi Reserve in Sicily [Francesco Lo Piccolo, Filippo Schilleci & Vincenzo Todaro] 5. Engaging in Politics of Participation: Managing Power Through Action Research [Anl¿ Ataöv, Güliz Bilgin Alt¿nöz & Neriman ¿ahin Güçhan] 6. Different Understandings of `Public Interest¿ As A Source of Conflict: Portuguese Spatial Planning and Practice [Joana Almeida & Fernando Nunes Da Silva] 7. The Conflict Between Free Market Capitalism and Social Policies: Mexican Housing Policy [Alfonso Iracheta] Part 3: New Attempts to Overcome the Post Political Trends in Planning and Governance 8. Shifting Political Conditions for Spatial Planning in the Nordic Countries [Peter Schmitt & Lukas Smas] 9. Politicising the Regional Scale? The Politics of Metropolitan Governance in Germany, Canada and Brazil [Karsten Zimmermann] 10. Local Welfare Governance and Social Innovation: The Ambivalence of the Political Dimension [Lavinia Bifulco & Maria Dodaro] 11. Politicisation of Community Development: Universities as Boundary Objects [Anne Taufen] 12. A Counter-Movement to `Place-Less¿ Power: Planners as Progressive Place-Based Leaders [Robin Hambleton] Part 4: Reflections and Conclusions 13. Scientific Knowledge and Decision-Making in Planning: Understanding Emotional Aspects [Ilhan Tekeli] 14. Afterword: I Am Realistic. I Expect Miracles [Klaus Frey & Ayda Eraydin]