The Politics of urban growth

Abstract

This book examines some of the ways in which politics and government have influenced the growth and shape of cities. It shows how urban growth affects economic and social welfare and the administration of all kinds of public services. It also asks how ordinary city dwellers can have more say in the way our cities grow in future. The chapters on the relation between planning, politics and popular participation raise issues of wide interest throughout an increasingly urbanised world. The picture of city growth in practice is based on Australia's largest city - Sydney - its abortive experiments in comprehensive planning, and its halting attempts to make life more bearable for its citizens. The assumption running through the book is that government has been responsible for the nature of the city's growth from the beginning, and that the management of future growth is unthinkable unless government - to the highest level - plays an increasingly responsible part. Some of the studies here show that the structure of government is quite unable to cope adequately with problems of growth. On the contrary, the situation is likely to get further out of hand unless there are changes in political attitudes and organisation, of which only faint signs can be seen at present. The authors have approached urban development from the different standpoints of history, political science, town planning and social administration. They have collaborated closely to present a balanced introduction to a relatively neglected aspect of city growth - the politics of the process. Not only is this essential reading for students of government, town planning and related fields, but it must be of considerable interest to city dwellers everywhere.