Dilemmas of policy and planning
J S Whitelaw
12 points * 3 hours per week * Second semester * Clayton * Prerequisites: As for GES3290
Societies have been experiencing major changes and adjustments as a result of much greater mobility and internationalisation of investment. Consequently, cities have been the scene of rapidly changing and uncertain social and economic environments. This presents new challenges to those responsible for managing and planning. Particularly important are the conflicts facing policy-makers in their attempts to reconcile the competing goals of efficiency, equity and environmental issues. Emphasis will be on the role and future of Australian cities. There are three major objectives: (1) to identify and analyse the nature of the changes occurring at the international, national and regional scales and their effects on work and social conditions; (2) to examine the procedures available to the state to implement and regulate policy in order to manage and improve the urban environment, and to assess the capacity of our institutions to keep pace with change; and (3) to identify the vulnerable people and places, and examine the adequacy of policy measures designed to ensure that their needs are protected and promoted.
Assessment
Written (7000 words): 60% * Examinations (3 hours): 40%
Recommended texts
Hall P Cities of tomorrow Blackwell, 1990