URBAN
MANAGERIALISM
Mys i ica ion o Alloca ion and Accessibili y in
a
Mixed Economy
l'hc pu posc o his pape is o qnes ion he <<u han manage ialismn
hipo hesis which
I
ha e pu o wa d in p e ious pape s.' The no ion hai
he e is
a
edis ibu ion o eal income as a esul o he aiioca iom o
public esou ces and acili ies is weU unde s ood. The ideology o alloca-
ion acco ding o need is pa o he appings o a he wel a e s a en
as a ype o socie y, and p o essional g oups clai~ning special expe ise in
he de e mina ion o and p o ision o such nceds ha e g own in powe as
he esou ces hey ailoca c inc casc.
Whiis a ocus on hese u han manage s o ga ekeepe s is a use ul
esea ch s a egp, and whils an explo a ion o hei implici goals, alues,
assump ions and ideologies is use ul in p o iding a aluable app oach
o s uden s explo ing he ole o p o essionals in bu eauc acies, such an
app oaach lacks bo h p ac ica1 policy implica ions and heo e ical subs ance.
P ac ically he i nplica ion
is
so o en hai he e is need o mo e sensi-
i i y and mo e esou ces: basicaily he plsnne s, social wo ke s, housing
manage s and so o h a e e y o en ying o u n he aps o hei
esou ces o a ou he mos disad an aged; bu ei hc h ough
a
mis aken
belie in he alidi y o hei da a,
a
lack o awa eness ol he unin ended
consequences o hei ac ions o simply h ough human e o , he csul s
1.
R.
E.
Pahl
U ban
Social Theo y and
Resea chu
in
'?bose
Ciiy?
Tnngmans
1970
chap.
13
nnd uU ban P ocesses
and
Social
S uc u e*
hli neu
Uni si y
o
Ken
1972.
U ban Manuge iaiism
o hei ac i i y ai1 o imnp o e, and possibly add o, he pligh o he
poo . Some imes, i is ue, hcy a c ca ying ou basically inequi able
go e nmen policies, o en wi h eluc ance, bu knowing ha his is agains
hei equi able ins inc s, i no hei p o essional aining. Gcne aily a
lack o£ esou ces inhibi s he ull dc clopmen o hei p og amme, pian
o p o ision and he cen al go e nmen is accused o ha ing he w ong
o de o p io i im, o p i a e employe s and en ep eneu s a e accused o
pu ing p i a e gain abo e public in e es . Thus, in p ac ica1 e ms hc
implica ions u n ou o he ema kably simila : esea che s show ha
he a ea o ope a ion o he p o essional alloca e is a mo e complica ed
han his aining and policies ~u~~es .~ Wise , mo c scnsi i e and be e
ained u ban manage s, suppo ed wi h mo e esou ces, is ine i ably he
policy conclusion. As wi h indus ial ela ions he is a pe manen plea
o abe e communica ionsn. Since ha is an inhe en p oblem in la gc.
scale
bu cauc a icaiiy-o ganised
socie ies, he e is no eason why e e y
esea ch wo ke should no disco e he poin o hiisel .
I
conside ha his emphasis on
he
local ga ekeepe s
is
o be wclmmed
and, indecd, i is, in my iew, pa o he sociologis 's gene al esponsibiii y
o explo e, expose and o demys i y he wo kings o ou ins i u ions which
a e he e as ou c ea ions o mee ou needs and should no be seen as
ex e nal sys ems domina ing us.
Wc
should no be su p ised o ind ha
wi hin
local
go e nmen s uc u es he e a e coníiic s, euds, ac ions, di-
ques, cabals and all he s ains and ensions common in bu eauc acies!
In
pa icula we shonld no he su p ised ha indi iduals and p o essional
g oups o en d ess up hei plans o pe sonal and collec i e ca cc ad an-
cemen wi h al uis ic and p o essional ideologies emphasising he needs
o hei clien s as a basis o expansion. Some may bclic c ha wi h di -
e en cla ionships o he meons o p oduc ion di e en mo i a ions and
a
di e en ahu nan na u e* nay eme ge. Un i1 such ime comes i would be
a nai e sociologis who would expec local go e nmen bu eauc acies o
ope a e e y much di e en ly om o he s.
Tha he e may be some di e ences be ween u ban manage s and, say,
indus ial manage s would be ha d o deny. Despi e he no doub well
in en ioned a emp s o hose who scek o make local go e nmen cano e
e icien ,, by in oducing managemen consul an s, ope a iunal esea ch
and o he aids om he wo ld o p o i maximising, no all hose in
2.
See,
o
example
he wo k
by
No man
Dennis
Peoplc and Plonning
Fabe
1970
nnd
Puhlic Pa icipa io~z and lJlanne ' Bligh
Fabe
1970
and
J.
G.
Da is
Tbe
E angelislic Du eauc a .
3.
A
good
ins nncc
n
lis
is
U ban Rencwal in Li c pool
by
D.
hl.
Muchnick
G.
Beii
&
Su is
1970.
local go e nmen a e conce ned wi h p o iding e icien se ices e leas
~os o he a es. Those who belie e in public se ice, who belie e ha
he lib a y se ice, o example, has always oo li le money and oo ew
den s, would claim ha mo e money spen is no p o ligs e bu a he
a o m o communi y in es men in he good li e. Simila ly hose espon-
sihle o educa ion, heal h se ices, he pe sonal social se ices and he iike
would a ely conside heic ask
in
e ms o e iciency,
bu
mo e o en
i
in
e ms o equi y o e en equali y. Local go e nmen s' sea ch o
a
j
coUec i e manage ial ideology and iden i y is cc ainly an in e cs ing e-
sea ch ield bu can ha diy be a sepa a e ocus o u ban sociology.
This b ings me o he second weaknes in he app oach
-
ha o heo-
elical suhs ance. The ocus un u ban manage s o ga ekeepe s <aUoca ing>>
indi ec wages nnd con oiiing access o sca ce u ban esou ces and acili ies
in clan u han sys em,, may be use ul, hu oo much should no be buil
upon i . Ce ainly he dange o e i ying concep s such as ualloca i e
s uc u esa
'
should bc a oided. Recen esea ch in B i ain has ocussed on
he u ban ga ekeepe s la gely hecause he esea che has been hea ily on
he
side o he lowe pa icipan s who may ha e su e ed a he hands
o insesi i e local o icials. I is unde s andaby e y easy o he esea -
che o iew he si ualiou h ough he eyes
o
disad an aged local popu-
la ions and o n ihu e mo e con ol and esponsibili y o he local o icial
han, say, local employe s o he na ional go e nmen . Following Gould-
ne 's sca hing discussion o his issue i does seem likely ha i is easie o
sociologis s ecei ing hei esea ch unds om go e nmen depa men s
o na ional esea ch councils o comhine wi h, as i we e, he bo om and
he
op in hlaming he middle.
As
Gouldne ema ks, such
<<a
c i icism o
locnl manage s o he Ca e aking Es ablishmen a and no he es ed in e-
es and a chaic me hods o hese middle dogs~ may lead o an <(unc i ica1
accomoda ion o he na ional Cli e and o he socie y's mas e ins i u ions>>.'
Such is he dange and i does seem o
be
he case xom ecen B idsh s u-
dies ha he middle dogs ha e been he chie a ge o champions o
he unde dogP
4.
As
I
end o do
in
he
pape
on <<Uiban P occsscs and Social S uc u en
OP,
ci .
5.
A.
W. Gouldne
.The
S ciologis
as
Pa isan:
Sociology
2nd
he
Wel n e
S a en
in
Fo Sociology
AUen Lane
1973
p.
51.
6.
In
addi ion
o
he
wo k
by
Dennis
and
Taylo
ci ed
abo e
he e
a c
l~e
bi ningham s udies by
J.
Rex
and
R.
hloo e
Race,
Co,,i,niini y ond Con iid
O.U.P.
1967
and
by
J.
R. Lambe
and
C.
J.
Filkin
Eihnic Choicc and P c e cnce
in
Houiing
Repo
o
SSRC
1971
and by Sean Dame
in
Glasgow
The
B ooi~~ioa~l Koad
Reboi iing
Scheme
Repo
o
he
Glasgow Co po a ion
and
his
unpublishe
NA.
hesis
a
he
Uni e siiy
u
S a hclyde.
Thcse local s udics ocusing on one sc o manage s o he u ban
sys em may be admi able in enabling us o unde s and he wo kings o
bu eauc acies and o ganiza ions. The de aiíed accoun s o he use and misu-
se o ules, he in e na1 s uggles, he con usions, decisions and non-deci-
sions a e all use ul accoun s o he wo kings o la ge-scale o ganisa ions and,
in pa icula , o hei ela ionships wi h hose ou side he o ganisa ion.
No doub mo e such s udies a e needed bu hey do no , e en when
aken all oge he , add much o ou unde s anding o he ci y in capi alis
socie y. Indeed, in many ways hey may con use and mys i y us by sugges-
ing ha esea ch on he sociology o he u ban manage implies an
unde s anding o an independen a iable in he c ea ion o he u ban
sys em. Such is he posi ion
I
ha e cha ac e ised as u ban manage ialism.
Tu ning o he indus ial sphe1.e iu o de o cla i y he poin abou
he inadequacy o manage ialism, he c ucial poin manage ialis s pu
o wa d is ha owne ship and con ol ha e become sepa a ed.' Thus, e en
in
such ma e s as o wa d plaming and in es men decisions i is he ma-
nage s and no hc sha cholde s, o hei ep esen a i es hc di ec o s, who
ake he c ucial decisions. Clea ly, his a gumen applies mos s ongly when
in es men is d awn mos ly om e aincd ea nings and, io he case o
public companies, asse s a e nppxop ia ely e lec ed in he quo ed sha e
p ice. Wi hou he o me he managc s would be dependen on ex e na1
sou ces o inance and he con ol ha migh oilow om ha , wi hou he
la e he company would be in dange o being aken o e~.~ Manage s
main ain con ol la gely hecause o hei echnical expe ise in indus ies
ope a ing wi h he mo e ad anced echnologies, he logic o science and
echnology is sail o de e mine he way such i~ldus ies mus de elop.
Manage s hus o m pa o he echnos uc u e, in Galb ai h's em?
Fu he discussion o manage ialism in he indus ial con ex would
be misplaced he e. E en hose who would hold o a heo y o indus ial
manage ialism, and his is ha d o sus ain
in
he ligh o Nichol's a ack,
would be e en
mo e
p essed o de elop
a
heo y o u ban m~nage ialism.'~
Ce ainly he p o essional o ice s o a local au ho i y can manipula e hei
7.
These a gumen s a c admi ably summa ised
in
Thco Nichols
Owne hip,
Con-
ol and ldeology
Cm ge Aiien and Unwin
1969.
8.
See
R.
E.
Pahi
and
J.
T. Winkle The Economic Eli e: Theo and P ac ice
in
P.
S anwo h
and
A.
Giddens (eds.)
Eli e
and
Powe
Camb idge Uni c si y
P ess
1974.
9.
J.
K.
Galb ai h
The
Neu
Tndu ial
S ai
Hammish Hamil on
1967.
10.
I is oniy
ai
o na e ha
I
ha e
conle
p obably
as
close as anyone o
ailoplin~ his posi ion in my p e oius wo k. Scc also
J.
R.
1,amhe
The
Milnugenlen
oi
Mino i ies in
The
Neu
A lanii
(Miian)
2
(i)
1970.
elec ed councilio s by wi hholding in o ma ion o p esen ing i selec i ely
and by o he means. Also o some deg ee and in some cases hey ha e
con ol o e income om a es. Fu he , hey can in luence he scope
and ange o cen al gu e nmen legisla ion hy in o mal p essu e exe ed by
hei mos senio p o essionals and also h ough hei a ious associa ions
and Ins i u es. Howe e , a b s , hey only ha e sligh nega i e in luence
o e he deploymen o p i a e capi al, and hei powe s o ba gaining
wi h cen al go e nmen o mo e esou ces om public unds a e limi ed.
E en when budge ing alloca io~~s ha e b en nego ia ed ei he be ween
depa men s a
a
na ional le cl o bemeen he na ional and local go e n-
men i is s iU liable o be cu o held back a e y sho no ice. W i ing
a a ime when public expendi u e in B i ain has heen cu by
El200
miliion
and
The
Times is sugges ing ha
£20,000
should be in es ed in (mainly p i-
a e) indus~ ~, i is clea wha so o
a
mixed economy D i ain is."
Tndccd i is e iden ha
a
um he e being a clea -cu cla ionship
be ween he manage s and he managed in an u ban sys em - aken o
mean a local con igu a ion o social, economic and poli ical powe sl uc u-
es- he whul : no ion mus
be
seen as ex emely p oblema ic. On he
o hc hand, unless one assullles a ela i e amoun o au onomy wi hin local
con igu a ions he posi ion o u han sociology as
a
disiinc i e s ance
wi hin he discipline becomes ex emely p eca ious. Wi hou such ela i e
au onomy, li e chances would be solely de e mined by na ional decision
and he e would be no a ia ion in access o esou ces, such as housing
o educa ion, om one pa o he coun y o ano he (holding posi ion
in he occupa ional s uc n e cons an ).
I
is wcU documen ed ha he e is, howe e conside able a ia ion in
he le el o se ice and accessibili ~ o esou ces be ween locali ies?' This
mus imply a ia ions in 'indi ec anges' and eal income in di e en mi-
iieux o spa ial con igu a ions. I
mdy
appea in a speci ic con ex ha
hose con oliiig he local a apsn
-
whe he planne s, housing manage s
o
medical o ice s o heal h
-
a e he ue 'ga ekeepe s and he way ha hey
use and in e p e hei xules and p occdu es in lnences li e chances in a
undamen al way. Qui c c idcn ly ecen case s udies demons a e ha
is mucb o ce in his p~si ion." Howe e , i i is he case in onc con ex
he smanage sn can ope a e inhumanely o insensi i ely, i is equally
11.
See
he
edi o ial
in
The
Times
19.12!73
and
he
uhscquen
co espondence.
12.
G.
Taylo and
N.
Ay s
Bo n and B ed Unequal
Longman
1969.
B.
Da ies
Social Needs and Resou ce
in
Local Se ice
AUcn
and
Un in 1768.
D.
IIa ey
<So-
cial
P ocesses,
spa ial
o m
and
he
edis ibu ion
o
eal
incomc in
an
u ban
sys e n
in
M.
Chisholm
e al
Re ional Fo esca ing
1971.
13.
See
abo e
wo ks
ci ed
in
oo no es
2
and
6.

plausible o smanage ss
in
a di e en con ex o con ol hei local aps
acco ding o di e en p inciples. Indeed, his mus be pa ly he cause
o
he empi ical a ia ion
in
he p o ision o acili ies which has been de-
mons a ed.
I
i is he case, hen, ha he exis ing s a e legisla ion in he ields
o planning, housing, social wel a e and so on pe mi s wide disc e ion on
he pa o he local con oile s, i is mo e di icul o see how o ganised,
sys ema ic and s uc u ed opposi ion can eme ge. I he local ga ekeepe s
o public esou ces and acili ies do no
sys en a ically
wo k oge he o
ein o me, e lec o ecompense inequnli ies engende ed h ough he p o-
duc i e p ocess hen an u ban manage ialis hesis could ha dly be sus-
ained. In o de o cla i y he main hemes o he discussion which
ollows
I
se ou ou al e na i e ideal ypes.
(i)
Th?
Manage ialis Model
This assumes ha con ol o access o local esou ces and aci-
li ies is held by he p o essional o ice s o he Au ho i y conce ned.
Such nga ekeepe sn sha e a common ideology (which i is hc job o
sociologis s o expose) and manipula e hei elec ed ep esen a i es
so ha he poli ical composi ion o hc council makes li le di e-
ence o he policies pu sued, and hence he e is
a
common e ec
on indi cc wages o he popula ions as a whole.
(ii)
The
S a is
Model
This assumes ha con ol o e local esou ces and acili ies is
p ima ily
a
ma e o he na ional go e nmen and ha local p o-
cssionals o manage s ha e e y li le oom o manoeu e. Na-
ional legisla ion in he ields o housing, planning, educa ion and
so o h, e ec i ely de e mine he indi ec wages o eal income o
he popula ion as a whole. Whils he e may he
ma ginal
di e ences
be wcen one
local
con igu n ion and ano he , hese do no subs an-
ially n ec he basic class s uc u e.
(iii)
The
Con ol-by-Capi alis s Model
This assumes ha
a
ei he na ional o local le els esou ces ase
alloca ed p i na ily o se i e he in e es s o p i a e capi alis s. Thcse
may be aken o be he ep oduc ion o a docile, weU- ained and
heal hy lahou o ce.
I
housing a ec s he supply o labou hen
esou ces mus be alloca cd o ensu e hai he supply is adequa ely
main ained.
I
g ow h and p o i s depend o some ex en upon in es -
men
in
educa ion, hen, again, minimal esou ces mus be alloca ed
U ban Manage iali m
acco dmgly. Public se ices and acili ies a e always seen as a ~lu-
xu yu acco ding o his model. A a local le el p i a e p o i is
a
mo e legi ima e basis o he alloca ion o , say, cen al loca ions han
public good.
(i )
The
Plu alis
Model
This assumes a pe manen ension be ween na ional bu eauc a-
cies, commi ed o ob aining and dis ibu ing la ge esou ces, ( oll*
wing pa ly hei own in e na1 logic o g ow h) and he in c es s o
p i a e capi al mani es ed h ough he economic p essu es o he
ci y, p i a e indus y and he poli ical pa y ep esen ing he domi-
nan class. Cu s and inc eases in public expedi u e ebb and low
be ween di e en sec o s as he lines o con íic shi . Simila ly, local
au ho i ies a e in compe i on whi h each o he o ge la ge sha es
o cen al unds and, once unds a e ob ained, be e is he same en-
sion be ween public and p i a e in e es s a a local le el.
Each o hese ideal- ypical models p oduces di e en explana o y a-
mewo ks o answe ing he ques ion 'who ge s wha ?' in gi en spa ial
con ex s. Lea ing aside he di icul ques ions o poli ical economy which
would ha e o be esol ed o de e mine which modcl is mos app op ia e
o any gi en socie y, ( o example, is Sweden mo e like model (ii) o
model (i )?), he e emains he p oblem ha no all local con igu a ions
ha e equal demands o na ional esou ces. Since he physical and demo-
g aphic a ia ion is conside able be ween one locali y and ano he in B i-
ain, he oppo uni ies o
ad
boc
special pleading
in
he claiming
o
na-
ional esou ces a e e y g ea . Gi en, oo, ha e i o ial jus ice is an
elusi e conccp , implying an abili y o come o a sa is ac o y de ini ion o
social need by he bene olen dic a o o bene olen bu eauc acy a he
cen e, some kind o ncgo ia ing o ba gaining be ween he nn ional and
he local
is
likely o be an ine i able elemen in any sys em.
The e y di e ences in local con igu a ions which gi e ise o di e-
en amoun s o na ional esou ces inhibi s he es ablishmen o o ganised
collec i e esponses o he alloca i e p ocess. Whils one local bu eauc a-
cy may ha e made an e ec i e claim o mo e esou ces o local schools
in he ligh o i s demog aphic s uc u e, a neighbou ing nu ho i y migh
ha e less %ood schools bu be e heal h p o ision. Since peoples' concep-
ions o ihe p o ision oi hese se ices a e likely o be hea ily in luenced
by hei local snbjec i e cxpe iences, a sense o common dcp i a ion o
'u -
ban class-consciousness' may no easily dc elop. Since di e n g oups
bene i
s
di e en imes om di e en semices, common u ban conscious-
ness is unde nined. Spo adic p o es s may, indeed, de elop: he mohile
and a luen may p o es by no ing hei loca ion; he
poo
may ake
p in en s ikes o squa ing.
Pe haps hy ocussing a cn ion on indi ec wages he u ban snciologis
helps o c ea e he e y mys i ics ions
I
ain a pains o desc ibe. By o-
cussing on u ban esou ces and acili ies and by alc ing u han popula ions
o hei ela i e dep i a ions in he icld o consump inn, a en ion is
shi ed om he nain soíL ce o inequali y in socie y, na nely, he ield o
p oduc ion. The wo k
by
Hindess
in
Li e pool shows ha he ex eme
salience o housing oppo uni ies o wo ke s' li e chances has made his
a cen ml ea u e o wo king class poli ical discussion. As Hindess pu s i
ulocal go e nmen is expe iencecl no simply as p o iding a hackg oi~nd
bu also as an ex e na1 cons aining nnd coe ci e o gani~a ion>>!~ In nlany
no he n ci ies he Lahou pa y in con ol is seen as being as cons aining
and as coe ci e as he al e na i e.
I
wo lce s a e made o hink ha hei
main in e es s a e in he ield o consump ion, and i sociologis s adop a
o m o u han manege ialism o explain he alloca ion o esou ces wi hin
an u han sys em, hen clea ly basic inequali ies a ising om he p oduc i c
p ocess will emain hidden.
So a we ha e a gued spa ially: we ha e no iced he ension he ween
he na ional and he local and hin ed a he ine i abili y o e i o ial in-
jus ice. I is now necessa y o nake ce ain poin s explici : no econo ny
can de elop in a c<spa ially neu aln way. Ine i ahly ce ain a eas will
ha e ce ain ad an ages o he le elop~nen o he p oduc ion o ce ain
goods and se ices.
As
echnology de elops o (bu no necessa ily) as
ma ke s change, ce ain a eas g ow mo e apidly whils o he s decline.
This unbalanced de elopmen ollows mo e om hc logic o£ echnological
de elnp nen han om he pa e n o owne ship o he p oduc i e p o-
cesses. As he di ision o labou becomes ma e ine, di e en ia ion and
concen a ion o he wo k o ce p nduces a spa ial o m o an economy,
which has
a
ela i ely au onomons logic o i s own.
In he same way ha a ce ain
scale
o p oduc ion leads o he c ea ion
o a esou ce
-
l~e economies o£ scale
-
so o0 does he physical concen-
a ion o hc wo k o ce in ci ies c ea e a esou ce, namely
accessibili y.
As long as acili ies a e concen a ed so ha some loca ions a e ma e
a-
ou ed han o he s, hen ineqnali ies o ac essibili y will occu , whe he
o no hese a e e lec ed in a di e en ial cn s nc u e.
The e a e only
wo
ways o o e coming such inequali ies: he i s -
would be o siloca e cen ali y acco ding o need. Since need changes o e
14.
B.
Hindess
The
Dec!inc
o
Wo king
Class
Poli ic
Paladin
Book
1971
p.
77.
he li e cycle (heing close o a p ima y school when unde
11
is an ad an-
age, being close when o e
65
can he
a
disad an age) and since he aci-
li ies a e ma e spa ially ixed han he use s, hen a high le el o indi idual
iobii y would be neccssa y. Howe e much his migh dis up social
ela ionships and d aw amilies apa , i would ha e o be insis ed upon
in
he in e es s o e i o cal jus ice. The second al e na i e would
be
o
nabolish cen ali y>>. Ci ies a e inhe en ly inegali a ian s uc u es and ul i-
ma ely he only way o e adica e spa ial injus ice is o e adica he ci y.
Tnis would seem o imply a cg ession o a simple mode
ol
p uduc ion
and a less ine di ision
u
laholis. So a
I
am a guing ha
echnology acd
he
di ision o labau c ea e ineq ali y indepe~id n l~ o
ba
engeizdeued
by he capi alis mode
o/
p uduc iun.
I ci ics a e p edominan ly p i a ely
owned hen a
secoizd
sou ce o inequali y, o e and abo e ha conncc ed
wi h acccssibili y will eme ge, namely
di e en ial en .
And he wo as-
pec s o inequali y a e in e ela ed. High accessibili y is gene ally cqua ed
wi h high en s.
Bu
e y high en loca ions a e in u n c ea ed by he
exis ence o hc mass o he popula ion ha su ounds hem.
I ,
o e -
nigh , &e ci y was o ally depopula cd, apa om hose li ing in he a ea
o he e y highes en able alue, such high en s could no
hc
sns ained.
Thus, he owne s o cen al loca ions ge a asu plus en u which, in he
case o p oduc i e en c p ises, is passed on as un ex a cos which he
wo ke has o wo k ma ginally longe o eco e o he employe .
The undamen al di e ence be ween
a
'capi alis ci y' and
a
'socialis
ci y' appea s, hc c o e, o he in c ms o he
owne ship
o
land
and
en
s ucluucs.
Hence, i is possible o pos ula e a 'socialis ci y' in
a
capi alis
socie y. This would he he casc i he s a e owned all u ban land dcspi e
he owne ship o he o ces o p oduc ion s ill emaining in p i a e hands.
Apa [ om paying en (howe e de e mined) o he S a e, p i a e capi a-
lis cn e p ises could p esumably CA y on much as he o e. Such a si ua-
ion aiscs in acu e o m he ela ionship be ween he poli ical economy
and he e i o ial s uc u e o hc socie y. How would
a
ci y owned on
a
'socialis hasis' in e ela e wi h a p i a ely owned sys enl u p oduc ion?
I would only be unde hese ci cu ns ances ha he u ban manage ia-
lisni
I
ha e discussed abo e would ha e o ce. Possibili ies o genuine
edis iLu i e policies woulil eme ge so hn indi ec u ages could compen-
sa e o low duec wagcs. 'l'eusion n;ould hen a ise bc e;n he poli y
and he econolny as capi alis s ound ha hei con ol o c local labou
ma k~ s
was
hc cby diminished. Indeed i is ili uugh hc cons uc ion o
such a scena io ha h eali ies
ii
pouTe in a uly <mixed>> economy
eme ge. The ci y hcn becomes
a
shn -l~an l e n1 o ih public alloca ion
o all se ices and acili ies (including accessibili y), apa om posi ion in
e idence o he a ia ion in he pa em and s yle o esploi a ion be ween
owns as indus ialism ad anced.%
The g ow h in he scale and olume o g anis-in-aid om hc S a e
du ing hc ninc cen h cen u y was g aduaiiy o lead o a decline in p o-
incial au onomy and he inc easing dominance o he powe o he S a e
in de e mining app op ia e le els o educa ion, heal h, housing and so o h.
Howc c , and his is he poin o his b ie excu sion in o nine een h cen-
u y his o y, he de elopmen o na ional s anda ds o puhlic p o ision
du ing he wen ie h cen u y mas g a ed on o a wide a ia ion in local
in as uc n e. Thus, No wich, B is ol, She ield and Manches e , o ake
ou ci ies a andom, no only had di e en local economic s uc u es bu
also consequen ly had di e en le els o indi cc wages.
Then, in he wen ie h cen u y, in he same way ha snme ci ies had
acqui ed g ea e g ow h and g ea e wed h
in
he p e ious cen u y, so
indus ial and u ban demy p c~duced
a
di e en pa e n which inc easingly
has come o be seen as a na ional and no a local p oblcm. Fu he , as
R i ain's compe i i e posi ion in he wo ld declined, as i los i s o e seas
in es men s, i s Empi e, i s supplp o cheap auT ma e ials and i s cap i e
ma ke s o manu ac u ed goods, so he poli ical powe o i s p oduc i e
indus y inc eased, o ming, as i docs, he ounda ion o ou economic
base. Unlike Fmnce, B i ain has o impo ahou hal i s ood and his
means ha he p oduc ion o goods and se ices o expo occupy, wi h
ag icul u e, a pa icula ly key ole in ou poli ical econamy.
Th~s
is b oadly
he con ex in which he ecen d ama ic cu s in public expendi u e, and
he p oposed e en mo e d ama ic in es men s in o in~lus y, mus be
seen. The co npe i i e a ena o in e na ional inance capi alism pu s c y
se e e cons ain s on B i ain's oom o manoeu e. The pu sui o wha
we e seen as n oo adical,, measu es could lead
o
a massi e ligh o ca-
pi al om he Ci y o London o money ma kc s clsewhe e and, possihly, a
simila ligh o skilled nanage ial and p o cssional wo ke s.
I
B i ain cu
i sel o om ading pa ne ships wi h mes e n capi alis socie ies i
would be likely o en e acu e balance o paymen s c ises i ood impo s
we e o be main ained. In his con ex , wi h con inuing in la ion aided by
he ine i able inc ease in wo ld p ima y p oduc e ices (especially oii)
expendi u e on u ban in as uc u e is ine i ably seen as a acos s es-
ic ing ou o e all cumpe i i eness in wo ld ma ke s.
In he ligh o his, i is su p ising ha he le el o ou public p o-
ision is as high as i is in compa ison wi h, say, F ance. Pa ly his
30.
J.
Fos e
Nin n h
Cell u y
Towns.
a
Class
Dimcnsion in
H.
J.
Bss
(ed.)
The
S ldy
o
U ban
His o y
A nald
1968.

can be accoun ed o by he inco po a ion o
he
wo king class in o he
poli ical p ocess, he ex ension o he igh s o ci izenship and he e o m
o social secu i y in he 1940s. Howc e , i would also be easonable o
a ibu e some mcasu e o c edi o he o ces o bou geois libe al, Luma-
ni a ian e o mism in be Fahian adi ion o amelio a ing he ha sh logic
o
capi alis en e p ise. The lowe -middie class alues o decency, o d li-
ness and <balancen ensh incd in such amelio is p essu e g oups as he
Town and Coun y Planning Associa ion'' ha e done much o c ea e a
dima e o opinion in which he smail-scale o ou u ban scene, epi omised
in he New Towns, was p ese ed and main ained. The ac ha a uni a y
capi alis uliu~g class did no exis ni nine een h cen u y R i ain and ha ,
whils he a is oc acy a uled o icially~~, he hou geoisie uled co e aii he
a ious sphe es o ci il socic y in eali y>> as Ma x no ed, has led Giddens
o concei e o a asys em o lcade ship g oupsn
;o
desc ibe he si ua ion
odap?' iis pa e n may se e o so en and mode a e he mo e agg essi-
e capi alis endencies.
The e has heen ema kably li le esea ch on h ideolog which has
p od l cd B i ish u banism and on he ela ionship be ween u ban alloca-
ion and he pali ical conomy o he s a e. Ru h Glsss's su ey o hc
ninc een h cen u y
li e a u ^^^
and Raymond Williams' mas e ly wo k on
he li e a y iniages o
The
Coi n y
nnd
he
Ci y
34
pp ide aluahlc s a -
ing poin s, and de ailed case s udies such
as
ha by S edman Jones
j5
o
IVuh1
36
a e ou s anding excep ions. Fo ecen yea s we ha e
o
ely on
jo ~ nalis ic analyses, such as
The
P ope y Bo~ n,~ and somewha ga bled
a emp s o link he ac i i ies o p ope y specula o s wi h he housing
c isis in L~ndon.~ Wha is needed is a sys ema ic sacio-economic analysis
o he implica ions o he apid mo emen o capi al in o land ma ke s.
The expansion o inance capi alism in he B i ish economy is a new end
which is sucking esou ces ou o local spa ial economies in a way p e-
ious inclus ial in es men did no (a leas i p o ided local employmen ).
31.
D.
Foley Idea
and
In lu nce: The Town and Coun y Planning Associa ion
lou nol u he Anje i an Ins i l e o Plo inec
26(1962) 10-17.
32.
A.
Gid lens Eli s in he B i ish Class S uc u e
Socioioaical Re iew
20(3)
1972
pp
34513i2.
33.
R.
Glass
U ban
Sociology:
A
T end
Repo
Cu en Sociology
4
(4)
1955.
34.
R.
Wiüisms
The
Coi n y
and
he Ciiy
Cha o
and
Windus
1973.
35.
G.
S cdman
Jones
Ouicas
London
Ox o d
UP.
1771
36.
A.
S.
Wohl
The IIousinn ol he Wo ding
Clnss
in Landon 1815.1914 in
S.
D.
Chwman
(ed.)
The Hii o y
o
Wo king ~la ~oiising
Da id
and Cha les 1971
and also he o hcoming book
by
P o aau
Vohl.
3;.
O.
hla io
The P ope iy Boom
Hemish Hamil on 1962.
38.
Coun e In o ma ion
Se iics
?be Rec i en C isis oi London
1973.
Such shi ing pa e ns o in es men ha e led Eisenschi z o conclude
u ha now he ci y as a physical a e ac is being used in o de o abso b
he economic su plus and p omo e he wel a e o he capi alis sys em~."
In he iigh o ecen Go e nmen legisla ion o cu b he ac i i ies o
p ope y specula o s, such b oad gene alisa ions may be ques ioned.' Ho-
we e , Eisenschi z's emphasis on he
lows
o in es men capi al is co ec ,
As he pu s i :
aTo undc s and he ela ion o he ci y o he wo ld and in
pa icula he ela ions o a eas wi hii he ci y one needs o know
whe e he su plus is gene a ed and nbso bed, and he magni ude, ge-
ne a ion and des ina ion
o
wages, en , p o i s and ou pu . A eas
and land uses should be examined wi h ega d o hei ela i e p o-
duc ion and consump ion, and hei gene a ion and abso p ion o
p o i s, ela ing land use pa e ns o cconomic o ces. Each pa e n
o lows has an associa ed pa e n o social ela ionships.>"
This mus be done in he con ex o
B i ish
poii ical economy based on
ou dis nc i e in as uc u e and dis inc i e posi ion in he pa e n o
wo ld ade in capi dis ma ke s.
au banismn, as Ha ey eminds us, aen ails he geog aphic concen a-
ion o a socially designa ed su plus p oduc ~!~ Ci ies a e essen ially un.
ai . U ban sociology in capi alis socie ies is basically conce ned wi h
analysis o he dis inc i e o m
o
un aimess o one socie y in compa ison
wi h ano he .
I
am a guing, somewha elip ically pe haps, ha B i ish
u banism and he indi ec wages gene a ed nnd dis ibu ed a e a p oduc
o
he ensions be ween compe i i e in e na ional ca~i alism and amelio-
is wel a e-s a e- ype ideologies. This
may
menn hai he B i ish u han
wo king class su e s less naked exploi a ion in he a ea o colie i e con-
sump ion, and ha he cen al go e nmen is less
di igis e,
han
may
be
he case in F ance. Howe e , in making hese analyses o he dis inc na-
u e o a ious o ms o capi alis u banism he e is an u gen need o
eme nbe
-
as
Mam
and Engels i s saw-
ha
' he housing ques ion',
and much else ha is w ong in ou ci ies can
ncuc
be sol ed whiie ema-
de n big ci iesa su i e. E en i we had he social con ol and owne ship
o he means o p oduc ion, so long as such nmode n hig ci iesa exis , so
39.
A.
Eisenschi z ~Planning
and
Inequali yu Mimeo:
The
A chi ec u al
Asw
cia ion
1973.
40.
Thc
Ties
2.1.'74.
41.
Eiscnschi z
op.
ci .
p.
73.
42.
Ha ey
op,
ci .
p.
246.
also, i in a di e en o m, will he inequi ahle gene a ion oi indi ec wages
con inue. The sea ch o
a
jus ci y is sel -de ea ing. As long as he e a e
nmodc n big ci icsn he e will be a need o amelio ism and he aUoca ion
oi esou ces by manage s and ga ekeepe s. And, o e u n o Hn ey a hc
epu a ion and signi icance o indi idual ci ies es o
a
la ge deg ee upon
hci loca ion wi h espec o he geog aphic ci cula ion o he su plus.
The quali z i e a ibu es o u banism will liiewise be a ec ed
by
he ise
2nd
iaU
in he o al quan i y o su plus as ell as he deg ee o which
he su plus is p oduced in concen a able
e m>>."
I
see his ocus on he ci cula ion o he su plus as he main
heo e ical
o ien a ion o he u u e. This should no p c en ac i is s and p agma-
is s wo king owa ds he a nelio is s' goals o .ma e esou ces and mo e
sensi i i yn. The e is no eason, apa om in ellec ual a ogance, why hey
should no wo k closely oge he .
43.
Ihia.