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Urbanism, Political Uncertainty and Democratisation

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  • Scott A. Bollens

    (Department of Planning, Policy, and Design, the University of California, Irvine, California, 92697-7075, USA. Fax: 001 949 824 8566, bollens@uci.edu)

Abstract

This paper examines how political leaders and urbanists employ city policies and strategies during and after political transformation periods and whether these local policies figure into larger processes of democratisation. It brings the city and the urban scale into contemporary debates about democratic transformations in ethnically diverse countries. Four settings are investigated—Basque Country and Barcelona (Spain) and Sarajevo and Mostar (Bosnia—Herzegovina)—that have experienced intergroup conflict, war and major national transformations. Findings come primarily from over 100 interviews with urban professionals, community officials, academics and political leaders in these cities. It is found that urban interventions are capable of making distinct contributions to national peace-building and can supplement and catalyse transitional paths toward democracy. The paper discusses why some cities play a constructive role in shaping democratisation while others do not, how this progressive city function is actualised and how this type of urbanism can be misplaced or neglected.

Suggested Citation

  • Scott A. Bollens, 2008. "Urbanism, Political Uncertainty and Democratisation," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 45(5-6), pages 1255-1289, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:urbstu:v:45:y:2008:i:5-6:p:1255-1289
    DOI: 10.1177/0042098008089868
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Albert Breton & Gianluigi Galeotti & Pierre Salmon & Ronald Wintrobe, 1995. "Nationalism and Rationality," Post-Print hal-00445587, HAL.
    2. John M. Bryson, 1981. "A perspective on planning and crises in the public sector," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 2(2), pages 181-196, April.
    3. Le Gales, Patrick, 2002. "European Cities: Social Conflicts and Governance," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780199252787.
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    Cited by:

    1. KubešCDFMR Jan, 2013. "European post-socialist cities and their near hinterland in intra-urban geography literature," Bulletin of Geography. Socio-economic Series, Sciendo, vol. 19(19), pages 19-43, June.

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