State, citizenship, and common good: British idealists’ influence on social philosophy and planning culture

This paper is part of an investigation of the relationship between planning and citizenship, and considers the contribution of British Idealists because it advances of almost a century the contribution given by Marshall in the ‘50s of the last century, which is usually the starting point of contemporary debates on citizenship. British Idealists takes on the not easy task of reconciling a liberal and lay vision with the need of an ethical base of the State. Idealists’ contributions change the role given to the State by the tradition of the liberal political thought and establish key issues to contemporary reflections on citizenship and social State. From the planning practice point of view Idealists’ contribution is especially interesting because it is based on the notions of citizenship and common good, keywords for planning and, unsurprisingly, Idealists’ influence on planning culture, is mostly on Geddes. Despite a lay political culture has difficulties in sharing their religious approach, it must be acknowledged that Idealists face issues and problems which were and continue to be relevant for the contemporary debate.