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- Title
The Good City: In Defense of Utopian Thinking.
- Authors
Friedmann, John
- Abstract
The article presents the author's utopian thinking about the good city. It is a revisiting of a transactive model of social planning to which the practice of dialogue would be central. These concerns subsequently expanded into the author's interest in social learning and the traditions of radical insurgent planning. The article examines the microstructures of civil action, such as the household economy, culminating in a theory of empowerment and disempowerment. Inspired political leadership, leaders capable of articulating a common vision for the polity, building a strong consensus around this vision and mobilizing resources towards its realization. The author says that public accountability relates to the unforced, periodic election of political representatives and the right of citizens to be adequately informed about those who stand for elections, the standing government's performance record and the overall outcomes for the city. Moreover, governance should be transparent in its manner of operation and, as much as possible, be carried out in full view of citizen observers. Citizens should have the right to information, particularly about contracts between the city and private corporations.
- Subjects
CITIES &; towns; SOCIAL planning; HOUSEHOLD ecology; CIVIL rights; INFORMATION services; TRANSPARENCY in government
- Publication
International Journal of Urban & Regional Research, 2000, Vol 24, Issue 2, p460
- ISSN
0309-1317
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1111/1468-2427.00258