Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
Since the birth of the United States, Americans are accustomed to having as
much space as their capacities permit. The shape of the American city reflects the
fundamental individualism of the people, and displays both positive and negative
consequences of their liberalism. Local governance, while democratic, is deeply
individualistic and little inclined to intergovernmental cooperation. The complex
government layering creates problems of vertical governance, i.e., poor problem
definition and numerous possibilities for conflict between cities, counties, and states.
Political fragmentation of metropolitan areas and unbridled competition between
territories is responsible for horizontal misgovernance. So far, supporters of a
fundamental revision of American urban models have focused on the rebuilding of
urban fabric. The Congress for New Urbanism insists on a more compact
construction on a neighborhood scale (concept of the “walkable neighborhood”) and
the return of the transportation network to encourage transit-oriented development.
David Rusk's experience [RUS 03], as well as the case of metropolitan Portland,
point to the geopolitical dimension of metropolitan governance as the necessary pre-
condition to be addressed before one can hope to banish the demons that divide
American society.
