Collects 19 essays addressing the changing nature of regional development and planning activities, along with the problems of government generated by these activities and the global effects of these activities. Contributors, representing roughly ten countries, are primarily drawn from the field of geography, but also include historians, urban planners, and economists. General issues addressed include centralization and post-war changes in centralized structure; emerging organizational and theoretical structures; the growing importance of urbanization; political, economic, and social change; the environment, development, and sustainability; the situation of mega-cities; and urban networks. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.
Regional Development and Planning for the 21st Century examines a number of related themes including: the traditional approach of local and regional planning initiatives developed within the context of national goals; the current decline of bi-polar political and ideological blocs; political decentralization and concurrent economic centralization including the growth of multi-national corporations; devolution of centralized planning powers to regions and localities, and the rise and acceptance of sustainable development concepts. The book is divided into five parts addressing: 1 - adjustments to political, economic and social change; 2 the problems of urban housing and housing and health; 3 - adjustments to environmental change, development policies and sustainability; 4 - the problem of rapid urban growth and mega cities; 5 - adjustments of changing urban networks. The contributors are from several countries worldwide and the chapters examine the issues at a global level.
