| Popis: |
The political economy approach of Regulation Theory is utilised to devise a research methodology which seeks to identify and investigate the principal forces involved in regenerating the central business district (CBD) of western cities. The cities of Cardiff, UK and Calgary, Canada are selected as case studies and placed within a sequential cross-national case comparison approach. A series of regulatory phases are identified and characterised for each city in the post war period compared within this comparative framework. A central tenet of the research is the changing role of the local authority planner in the post war period, from functionary and visionary to regulator, and from regulator to entrepreneur and promoter. Importantly, the context for planning is examined within both cities through a thorough review of their respective systems of planning and local government, and by an appreciation of the interplay between the various local national and international forces for change. Generally it is found that despite the influence of various local and national factors (e.g. culture, politics and social lifestyles) the most important factor influencing CBC regeneration is the state of the international economy. |
