Rola planistów przestrzennych w procesie partycypacji społecznej w planowaniu i kształtowaniu przestrzeni. Nadzieje i realia

The article presents the results of studies on the approach of Polish contemporary space planners to the position of public participation in their profession. The results of these studies have been presented at the background of reminding the pioneer role of urban planners in the 1960s and 1970s. The article indicates that the role of planners in supporting public participation in space planning and development relies not only on using and creating techniques (instruments) of participation in spatial planning. It is of equal (or maybe even higher) importance urban planners educated the communities about the meaning of space and its development. This is why the article tells about the promotion of architectural knowledge and culture as well as the role of urban planners in it. This issue, in turn, is connected with the prestige of the profession of urban planners and architects, which is also discussed in the article.