The State

Abstract

This chapter looks at the different organisations which together constitute the public sector where planning is concerned, outlining the main features of the different types of organisation. Four types are distinguished: central government, local government, quangos and international organisations, particularly the European Commission. Much of the detail of how these different organisations are involved in different areas of planning practice has been covered in the separate sections on particular policies. It is not intended to rehearse those details here; rather, the emphasis will be on the characteristics of the different types of organisation and the broad patterns of interrelation. The chapter begins with a brief discussion of this interrelation in the policy process.