Urban Strategies for a Global Era

TLDR

The authors aim to identify four urban development strategies—growth, community development, regionalism, and national policy—through detailed case studies. They analyze 10 Western European and North American cities over 30 years using case‑study methodology. The strategies collectively strengthen local governmental influence and democracy in the international capital investment process, with national urban policy playing the most pivotal role.

Abstract

This article is based on a study of 10 cities in Western Europe and North America over a 30-year period. Based on detailed case studies, the authors identify four strategies of development: (a) growth strategies, (b) community development initiatives, (c) regionalism, and (d) national urban policy. The first of these strategies focuses on promoting economic growth, albeit sometimes “slow” or “smart” growth. The other three strategies focus on rescaling the city to enhance bargaining leverage in the international marketplace. It is argued that all of these strategies have enhanced local governmental influence over the international capital investment process, thereby also stimulating local democracy over city building. National urban policy appears to play the most critical role, however, because it most powerfully supports local public sector bargaining with private enterprise.