Housing Policies in the Socialist Third World


Book Description

In 12 country case studies the book investigates the housing policies of a wide range of socialist Third World countries. The socialist characteristics used to select countries for inclusion are discussed in the introductory chapters. The case study chapters analyze the housing situation in particular countries by examining national development and housing; land ownership; centralized planning and administration - the effective mobilization of local resources; housing production and meeting targets; and priorities for housing allocation.




Planet of Slums


Book Description

Celebrated urban theorist Davis provides a global overview of the diverse religious, ethnic, and political movements competing for the souls of the new urban poor.




In Defense of Housing


Book Description

In every major city in the world there is a housing crisis. How did this happen and what can we do about it? Everyone needs and deserves housing. But today our homes are being transformed into commodities, making the inequalities of the city ever more acute. Profit has become more important than social need. The poor are forced to pay more for worse housing. Communities are faced with the violence of displacement and gentrification. And the benefits of decent housing are only available for those who can afford it. In Defense of Housing is the definitive statement on this crisis from leading urban planner Peter Marcuse and sociologist David Madden. They look at the causes and consequences of the housing problem and detail the need for progressive alternatives. The housing crisis cannot be solved by minor policy shifts, they argue. Rather, the housing crisis has deep political and economic roots—and therefore requires a radical response.




Housing Policy Matters


Book Description

This book unifies housing policy by integrating industrialized and developing-country interventions in the housing sector into a comprehensive global framework. One hundred indicators are used to compare housing policies and conditions in 53 countries. Statistical analysis confirms that--after accounting for economic development--enabling housing policies result in improved housing conditions.




Housing in the Third World


Book Description




Housing Policy and Practice in China


Book Description

An authoritative addition to comparative housing research, adding to knowledge of housing policy in practice in China. It demonstrates how Chinese housing provision and policy differs in important ways from that of the former state socialist regimes in Eastern Europe and from other developing countries with which China is often grouped. The relationships to the Chinese political and social frameworks and the influences of Asian neighbours are outlined and assessed.




Self-help Housing, the Poor, and the State in the Caribbean


Book Description

This collection of essays represents the first in-depth, scholarly treatment of housing policies and conditions throughout the Caribbean. The contributors consider both the performance of the state and the autonomous activities of the poor, making this volume an invaluable contribution to future planning and debate.The essays, each dealing with a specific island or group of islands, collectively address four main themes: the history of housing provision since colonization, current housing conditions, state policies toward housing provision, and the changing relationships between governments, international funding agencies, the private housing sector, and the peoples' responses. These investigations not only highlight the often alarming problems that Caribbean nations face in providing adequate housing for the poor but also implicate governments in past and present failures and poor performances. However, the essays are also filled with useful insights about the ways in which progressive housing policies can be formulated and implemented. For example, the volume suggests that the Caribbean's rich heritage of folk and vernacular architectural styles should be taken into serious account in future planning efforts.In a concluding synthesis chapter, the volume editors argue that a more progressive future is attainable if all parties exhibit the political will that the poor have already demonstrated.




Back From the Future


Book Description

This book has long been regarded as the definitive history of Castro's communist regime, beginning in 1959 through the 1990s. This updated, second edition contains a new epilogue by the author that covers the last decade, including such newsworthy events as the Elian Gonzalez controversy, the growing immigrant community of Cuban-Americans in Florida, the role of Cuban-Americans in the 2000 presidential election, the withering U.S. sales embargo and the inevitable transition of power now that Castro is in his mid-70s.




Mass Housing in the Socialist City


Book Description

Mass housing in Germany, Russia, and Ukraine represents an enormous volume of housing today and therefore a huge resource for the future development of cities. But transformation of these districts is needed due to the functional, societal, and technical problems and challenges they face. How can sustainable, socially compatible, ecological responsible, and economically efficient development be achieved? The book summarises the results of a three-year research project. Based on the selected case studies, it points out the qualities and values as well as the problems and potentials involved in spatially transforming prefabricated housing estates from the 1960s and 1970s. The specific features and characteristics of the socialist city are evaluated with respect to their potentials and difficulties, and with regard to the requirements placed on future district planning and development. Hence this book contributes to the on-going discussion and serves as a valuable basis for developing planning strategies.




The City in the Developing World


Book Description

The City in the Developing World is a comprehensive and up-to-date introduction to urbanisation in developing countries. The goal of this text is to place an understanding of the developing world city in its wider global context. First, this is done by developing the concept of social surplus product as a key to understanding the character of the contemporary Third World city. Second, throughout this text, the city in developing areas is centrally placed in the context of global, social, economic, political and cultural change. Thus, the important themes of globalisation, modernity and postmodernity are examined both in relation to the structure of sets of towns and cities which make up the national or regional urban system, and in respect of ideas and concepts dealing with the morphology, structure and social patterning of individual urban areas. The City in the Developing World is a core text for second and third year undergraduates in the fields of geography, development studies, planning, economics and the social sciences, taking options which deal with development issues, development theory, gender and development and Third World development.