Sociological study of policy thinking in urban planning

Abstract

In the article, the issues of sociological research and sociological knowledge are analyzed that are needed for policy decision making in urban and regional planning. The issues are discussed in the light of the theory developed by Karl Mannheim in his work «Ideology and Utopia». In aspects of requirements for the results of the social sciences K. Mannheim fixed, existing sociological approach for urban research are criticized. An alternative approach to product a sociological knowledge on societal level is presented. The case study with applying of methodological tools of Mannheim's concept is presented.