Over the past six or more decades, John Friedmann has been an insurgent force in the field of urban and regional planning, transforming it from its traditional state-centered concern for establishing social and spatial order into a radical domain of collaborative action between state and civil society for creating the good society in the present and future. By opening it up to theoretical engagement with a wide range of disciplines, Friedmann s contributions have revolutionised planning as a transdisciplinary space of critical thinking, social learning, and reflective practice.

Over the past six or more decades, John Friedmann has been an insurgent force in the field of urban and regional planning, transforming it from its traditional state-centered concern for establishing social and spatial order into a radical domain of collaborative action between state and civil society for creating the good society in the present and future. By opening it up to theoretical engagement with a wide range of disciplines, Friedmann s contributions have revolutionised planning as a transdisciplinary space of critical thinking, social learning, and reflective practice.