Introduction to Planning & Institutional Processes in Developing Countries
MIT OpenCourseWare offers this introductory graduate course from the Department of Urban Studies and Planning on how planning actually happens inside developing-country governments, NGOs, and international organizations. Rather than promoting one correct method, the course draws on historical and contemporary case material to help students pose questions and analyze institutional behavior, bureaucratic incentives, and political constraints that shape planning outcomes. Materials include the syllabus, readings, and assignments used in the MIT classroom, aimed at students heading toward careers in development policy or public administration. The course treats planning as a political and institutional process rather than a purely technical exercise, examining why plans succeed or fail once they meet real government agencies and organizational politics. As with other MIT OCW offerings, all course materials are free to access, with no certificate offered.