“The System Is the System, Isn’t It?”

The Case for a Just Devolution

Dados Bibliográficos

ID22018248
AutoresLiam O’farrell (0000-0002-5984-844X, University of Sheffield), Liam O'Farrell, Roman Zwicky (0000-0003-2231-3166, University of Zurich)
Ano2022
Volume7
Fascículo3
Data de publicação2022-04-29
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoUrban Planning (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 2183-7635 • E-ISSN: 2183-7635
EditoraCogitatio (PUBLISHER • PT)
DOI10.17645/up.v7i3.5291
OpenAlexW4225120277
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas1
Referências citadas29

How do actors involved in decision-making around urban planning relate to devolution? How do they perceive external forces influencing their cities, and how can the interventions they make be better oriented towards tackling inequalities? We reflect on these questions with data from interviews conducted with urban leaders and housing and development policy stakeholders in the second cities of Birmingham, UK, and Lyon, France. We compare narratives and assess how they relate to the concept of spatial justice in differing contexts of devolution. Drawing from findings in two cities with distinct governance structures, we uncover common issues with neoliberal, growth-oriented mindsets among key actors, despite contrasting rhetoric around social justice. We contend that there is thus a need to define mechanisms for making devolution more attentive to inequalities. This could be achieved through incorporating the concept of spatial justice into devolution strategies. We further argue that, while autonomy to make decisions is an important aspect of devolution, this autonomy needs to be operationalised within an appropriate constellation, including a progressive political-economic culture, sufficient bureaucratic authority and resources, and an active and informed citizenry. As such, devolution is a two-way process of having powers devolved from above and building capacity from below to make use of these powers effectively. We conclude by reflecting critically on the potential of existing strategies in the two contexts to overcome social inequalities and realise the aspirations of “just devolution.”

Autonomy · Bureaucracy · Corporate governance · Economic Justice · Economics · Management · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Public relations · Rhetoric · Sociology · Law · Local Government Finance and Decentralization · Political Systems and Governance · Public Administration · Urban Planning and Governance