CEU Summer University
Nador u. 9, Budapest, Hungary 1051
Tel.: (36 1) 327 3069, 327 3811
Fax: (36 1) 327 3124
E-mail: summeru@ceu.hu
Website: http://www.ceu.hu/sun/sunindx.html
The Future Role of Cities in a Globalising World - Challenges for new
public strategies and innovative urban governance
30 July – 10 August, 2001
Course Directors: Thomas Knorr-Siedow, Institute for Regional Development and Structural
Planning, Erkner, Germany
Ivan Tosics, Metropolitan Research Institute, Budapest, Hungary
Resource Persons: Barbara Allen, Centre Scientifique et Technique du Bátiment, Paris, France
Paul Baross, Kolpron, Budapest, Hungary
Judith Bodnar, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, USA
Gabor Csanády, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
József Hegedüs, Metropolitan Research Institute, Budapest, Hungary
Ulf Matthiesen, Institute for Regional Development and Structural Planning,
Erkner, Germany
Ludek Sykora, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
Marco Venturi, University of Venice, Italy
Gábor Demszky, Mayor of the City of Budapest
(Applicants may wish to visit the web site of CEU SUN at http://www.ceu/sun/sunindx.html
Course objective:
With the development of supra-national institutions and the global economy, the cities are facing new
challenges and have increasing opportunities for action. The change is rapid and presently the
directions seem uncertain. Some speak of the dissolution of the city due to the effects of new
technologies, globalisation and individual choice. Some fear a polarised ‘dual city’ of social conflict
with a decreasing socio-cultural and economic productivity. Others see an emergence of a ‘new
urbanism’ as a socio-spatial concept and still others proclaim a new quality in the intertwined urban
regions under the heading of ‘network-city’. The contrasting perspectives seem to lie between de-
localisation (the loss of the meaning of space and face-to-face relations, the increasing importance of
information and technology as a consequence of globality) and an increasing importance of locality
(enabling milieus, civil society). In order to provide the local ‘foundation’ for the lives of their
populations, cities will in future have to ‘pro-actively’ find a balance, which enables them to cope on a
global level and embeds locally.
The debates and the innovative approaches of western European cities are seen from a special angle in
the central and eastern European and central Asian cities. There were two dramatic shifts affecting
politics, economy and society: nationalization-centralization-totalitarianization versus, four decades
later, privatization-decentralization-democratization which are presently deeply influencing debates and
action. It is no wonder that there is no clear vision about an urban future and paths and methodologies
of development.
Objectives of the course include:
Providing an understanding of the problems and potentials, of the deficits and assets of the
‘European type of city’ in transforming Europe. Theoretical concepts from a historical view of
urban development towards the ‘modern’ machine-type economic city and network-city approaches
will be debated on the basis of a contrasting view on different eastern and western European
countries, regions and cities.
An analytic view of the structural situation of different cities under transformation regarding the
social, economic status and the trends of development will be taken. Which European cities are
moving towards ‘higher ranks’ in the competition for wealth and a civic culture with respect to
sustained development and which are declining? In what way does size matter? Does the future
look brighter for metropolitan regions or for medium-size-towns? What are the social, economic
and physical elements that seem to matter? What are the roles of social milieus and the build
structures for development?
Information will be given about best practices for urban governance and planning that can prevent
the loss of the quality of the city as a social and economic environment and can help cities to
manage their situation in a positive way.
One focus will be on a comparison of ‘western’ and ‘eastern’ approaches and the opportunities
for a joint learning process.
A second focus will be on the interdependence between urban ‘master planning’ and the
concrete development of districts. Are the ‘neighbourhood’ and local networks re-emerging as
a force, when integrated in larger networks?
A third focus will be on the conflict between avant-garde ‘high-tech’ and ‘high-serve’
developments producing high income for the happy few and the threat of a polarised
development for those increasingly excluded from wealth creation as their potentials – labour
and knowledge are devalued. How do the policies of the ‘social city’ (Germany), the ‘politique
pour le cité’ (France) or the ‘new deal for the communities’ (United Kingdom) work in
bridging the gaps and turning the tide for problematic cities?
The fourth focus will be on local governance, partnership and the role of a civil society as
‘carriers’ of an embedding development. What are the roles of politicians, administrators, and
the planning professions in the ‘enabling city’ of the 21st century?
Course level and target audience:
The course is intended to be an interdisciplinary and interactive learning event for younger academics
from universities or research institutions as well as for practitioners with an academic background
interested and active urban debates and practice from government to grass-root level. Whereas the
‘European City’ is in the focus, participants from central Asia and the Middle East are also invited. As
planning and development theory and governance are in the focus, a wide range of professional
knowledge and practice would be an appropriate basis for participation: sociologists, planners,
administrators, architects as well as transfer oriented media producers and community developers.
Priority will be given to participants who are able to demonstrate their own ‘home’-experience in
analysis, research or practice. Academics faculty engaged in teaching urban professionals are also
welcome. Building on the knowledge and skills of the participants, the course will be analytically
demanding and advanced in terms of its comprehensiveness.
Syllabus:
Module one, ‘The European city’: Theoretic debates about dissolution and re-emergence. The urban
element of ‘city’. Globalization, cities and citizenship: the change in the practical role and the theoretic
importance of cities, the effect on urban governance, urban life and urban society. A comparative look
at the development of urban policies in post-socialist central European cities. East-west contrasts, the
empirical data about polarization, segregation and new neighbourhood.
Module two: The economic city: New types of urban economics – global actors and the neighbourhood.
The meaning of the emerging real estate markets, the relation between investors/developers and local
policy.
Module three: Urban transformation concepts: The urban region, network-cities – the new concept of
region integrating city and opening new visions for the historic town. Milieu, locale and urban action –
a look at action-oriented social theories of dissolution and cohesion. The local and neighbourhood
experience of integration between groups, central and peripheral – the example of Paris. The new role
of city planning and the new professional roles for planners, managers, administrators and mediators.
Module four, Urban governance in practice: The Budapest case – the innovative approach of the new
strategic development concept and of the urban rehabilitation programmes. Comparative assessment of
European policies for the cities. The Budapest case; from theory to praxis, from research to politics.
Module five, The public event: (in cooperation with the Budapest Goethe Institut): presentations of
findings and debate about ‘The city between global and local, between high-tech and neighbourhood?’
(Afternoon/Evening)
Teaching methods:
In addition to traditional ‘frontal’-teaching, group discussions, the course will make an extensive use of
the fact that it takes place in Budapest, one of the most rapidly changing metropolises of central Europe.
Field-encounters and panel-debates between academics and practitioners about ‘best practices’ will be
part of the course as well as panel debates about theory. The students will find the opportunity to
present local cases from their own environment and to re-assess these strategies in a workshop situation.
A discussion about innovative teaching methods for urban development professions will also take place.
Central European University does not discriminate on the basis of--including, but not limited to--race, color, national and
ethnic origin, religion, gender or sexual orientation in administering its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship
and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.