No more imperial cities : on futurology in social science

This paper considers the dangers for social science when the predictive urge extends to prophesy, the conviction that the future is already knowable. Seen from a spatial perspective, futurology frequently relies on the theoretical aggrandisement of contemporary places to press its claim that the future of space has already been foretold in contemporary events. Two cases are essayed as cautionary tales: first, the inflated claims made in the social sciences during the 1980s for Los Angeles as a preview of an inevitable post-modern future for global capitalism; and second, the more recent, and no less extravagant, commentaries which have trumpeted contemporary, neo-liberal New Zealand as the future the world must have. The misleading claims of futurologists are exposed in both instances through empirical analyses of actual events. It is concluded that futurology is a deceptive, and therefore non-scientific, gaze which occludes social and natural contingency.Australian Policy Online (APO)'s Linked Data II project, funded by the Australian Research Council, with partners at the ANU Library, Swinburne University and RMIT

Das »Neuseeland-Wundern: Schicksal oder Märchen?

This paper critically examines the political-economic reform programme which New Zealand has undertaken since 1984. Many observers, both in New Zealand and overseas, have argued that all Western countries must eventually follow New Zealand down this neo-liberal reform path. The paper argues against this view, showing that the New Zealand reforms have mostly failed to achieve their purpose; a fact which is already lessening their international appeal

Comeback city? Lessons from revitalising a diverse place like Dandenong

In the 1990s, central Dandenong in Melbourne’s southeast was in decline. But, over the past decade and a half, this trend has been halted and in some areas reversed. Our research has identified key elements in this revitalisation, including strong roles for both public sector and non-government participants. Importantly, the approach has delivered new opportunities for the culturally diverse local community. At the time these efforts began, a shrinking manufacturing sector and poor urban planning decisions had drained vitality from the centre. New shopping malls and suburban estates enticed people to live and shop elsewhere. Public spaces were dilapidated. Many retail buildings were vacant. Unsurprisingly, local population levels were stagnating. Affordable rents and a community with strong networks of support attracted some new residents, most from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. However, once settled, many people faced barriers to employment, training and adequate public facilities.Fil: Henderson, Hayley. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Saavedra 15. Centro de Estudios Urbanos y Regionales; Argentina. The Australian National University; AustraliaFil: Gleeson, Brendan. University of Melbourne; AustraliaFil: Sullivan, Helen. The Australian National University; Australi

Cultural diversity and collaborative governance in central Dandenong

This paper reports preliminary findings from a study sponsored by the ESRC about collaborative governance under austerity. While the study involved the comparison of experiences of ‘austerity’ and ‘collaboration’ between eight Western cities, the focus of this paper is the unique experience of collaboration in urban governance in Dandenong, Melbourne. In particular, our research examined distinct forms of collaboration that have occurred under recent conditions of urban policy and funding reprioritisations (2005-2017). In addition to uncovering general details about collaborative structures and stresses, we have discovered that cultural diversity has played a unique role in both defining modes of collaboration as well as the direction of urban revitalisation. Cultural diversity may be typical of many Australian cities since World War Two, where scholarship has long noted the dynamism, fluidity and positivity of new cultural inflows within expansive urbanisation. However, less is known about the ways in which cultural diversity influences collaborative modes of urban governance. Working with recent scholarship on hybridity in urban governance this paper elucidates the specific ways cultural diversity is supported locally in Dandenong and, in turn, used in collaboration. Specifically, it describes a starting position of widespread support for multiculturalism and mutual understanding in the community linked to the distinctive morphology and socio-ethnic functioning of the city. It also describes the multiple forms of engagement and collaboration between actors in revitalisation, such as more traditional forms of engagement between government and non-government actors as well as new forms of political action led by cultural groups to influence the trajectory of urban policy

Backrooms, wards and backlanes : the landscape of disability in nineteenth-century Melbourne

The spatial and the historical dimensions of disability have both been poorly documented and analysed in Western social sciences. The spatial social sciences — geography, urban planning and architecture — have either largely ignored or trivialised the issue of disability. The discipline of history has also paid scant attention to the question of disability. This paper contributes to the historical-geographical understanding of disability by exploring the spatial context ofphysical impairment in nineteenth-century? Melbourne. The paper has two specific objectives (i) to ‘locate'disabled people in nineteenth-century Melbourne by showing where and how they lived; and (ii) to illustrate the socio-spatial relations that shaped their lives. The analysis focuses on three key sites of everyday life for disabled people: home, workplace and institution. It is argued that the sociospatial relations which cohered around and between these pivotal locations played an important role in shaping the everyday life patterns ofdisabled people.Australian Policy Online (APO)'s Linked Data II project, funded by the Australian Research Council, with partners at the ANU Library, Swinburne University and RMIT

New Ways of Mapping Social Inclusion in Dublin City

The Dublin City Area Based Partnerships are pleased to present this report “New Ways of Mapping Social Inclusion in Dublin City”. This initiative is a collaboration between the Area Based Partnerships, Dublin City Development Board (DCDB) and the National Institute for Regional and Spatial Analysis (NIRSA). The commissioning of this report stemmed from a need to source accurate and timely data to aid the targeted delivery of supports to help those most at need within our communities. The research has created a localised evidence base which will ensure a more effective deployment of our limited resources. This will have the potential to achieve better outcomes within our communities. The report demonstrates that with the agreement of data holders we can significantly enhance our knowledge base and decision making. We expect that on reading this report, government bodies, and other relevant stakeholders will see the benefits in sharing information at a local level to inform policy making and, as a result, ensure the better targeting and delivery of public resource

New Ways of Mapping Social Inclusion in Dublin City

The Dublin City Area Based Partnerships are pleased to present this report “New Ways of Mapping Social Inclusion in Dublin City”. This initiative is a collaboration between the Area Based Partnerships, Dublin City Development Board (DCDB) and the National Institute for Regional and Spatial Analysis (NIRSA). The commissioning of this report stemmed from a need to source accurate and timely data to aid the targeted delivery of supports to help those most at need within our communities. The research has created a localised evidence base which will ensure a more effective deployment of our limited resources. This will have the potential to achieve better outcomes within our communities. The report demonstrates that with the agreement of data holders we can significantly enhance our knowledge base and decision making. We expect that on reading this report, government bodies, and other relevant stakeholders will see the benefits in sharing information at a local level to inform policy making and, as a result, ensure the better targeting and delivery of public resource

Complementarities between Urban Centres on the Island of Ireland (NIRSA) Working Paper Series 56

Complementarity between urban centres is a key element of Ireland‟s National Spatial Strategy and Northern Ireland‟s Regional Development Strategy. Both documents encourage the development of complementary roles for urban centres, at both the intraregional and inter-regional or national scale. In addition, at the intra-regional scale, different roles and functions are accorded to different types of urban components. Although the documents do not define complementarity, in most cases the term appears to signify functional distinctiveness/specialisation of urban centres. Such complementarity can be defined at different level of functional aggregation. Both documents are vague as to the level of aggregation and provide few clear suggestions as to the different roles or functions that are accorded to the various urban components