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In this article a major part of the German-language output in spatial sciences between 2003 and 2014 is examined towards a supposed gap between theory-based research and planning practice. Thus a total of 1929 articles contained in scientific series of the Akademie für Raumforschung und Landesplanung (ARL) and three journals is analysed to different degrees of detailing. In the first step, a classification was conducted in order to organise the empirical results. In a second step, detailed analyses were followed. The assumption of a gap all in all is confirmed: Only a small part of the examined articles argues visible theory-based. And within these articles the empirical examination of theories mostly is succeeding only rudimentary and the practical benefit of the research results is rarely noticeable. This finding as well shows, that the requirement of transdisciplinarity in the planning sciences can only partly be fulfilled. This could be the result from reasons in between the system of research as well as in conceptual deficits in the planning research itself.

Power is inherent to spatial planning, especially in decision-making processes, but also within the planning and the implementation process. Apparently, a central challenge seems to be the analysis and evaluation of not only institutionalised power shown in legislative instruments and financial resources, but also regarding the current use of power in the planning processes. This paper provides a new conceptual framework to analyse the power characteristics and uses within the planning process. Based on power relations in theory and practice, similar methods and their approach to the illustration of questions of power are presented in a first step. Subsequently, the method of systemic constellations is explained and portrayed in detail, followed by an exemplary illustration of the method in scholarship and practice. The paper ends up with critical conclusions on potentials and limits of the implementation of systemic constellations in spatial planning processes.