Urbanisation and planning in the 3rd world : spatial perceptions and public participation /

In about 15 years, 2.1 billion people in the Third World will live in urban areas. The political, social, and environmental consequences are potentially explosive-a challenge to statesmen and urban planners, and likely misery to ordinary urbanites. Potter traces the evolution of urbanization and urbanism from early mercantilism to contemporary capitalism, and offers a scheme for planners to tackle problems of immense complexity. Western policies, decentralization, growth-pole models, or high-rise housing are generally unsuitable; ``upgrading'' and ``site/serve'' schemes show greater potential, as case studies of Trinidad, Barbados, and Venezuela reveal. The author develops a somewhat overly complex model, with spatial, behavioral, perceptive-cognitive, public participation, and mental map components. Less is said about urgent structural changes of the international economic and political order. Urbanization is inversely related to economic development, migration, and equality. Potter concludes that ``aggregate-structuralist and individual-positivist'' approaches will ``aid effective urban planning.'' This ``involves the premeditated changing of environmental conditions and images,'' schemes ``customised'' to meet ``aspirations and perceptions.'' They also require a rejection of elitist demands and involve ``individual and community participation.'' Figures, maps, tables are all excellent as is the extensive bibliography. Public and academic libraries; a must for urban planners and officials of various aid agencies.-P.C.W. Gutkind, McGill University