Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
to deter bigots who refuse to accept such diversity. Such events have led to greater
emancipation in some cities, trends that would have been almost unthinkable a gen-
eration ago. But they are still banned or even criminalized in many cities in countries
of totalitarian or religious rule. In such countries the hope for the emergence of more
emancipatory cities is still unfulfilled, due to repressions of the moves to social diver-
sity, equality and tolerance that have been experienced in many developed countries.
3538
Limitation of Some Behaviours
The development of more contacts between different groups may not be enough
to avoid potential conflict between diverse peoples, whether of age, life styles or
ethnicity. Since the behaviours of some individuals and groups may upset others,
there is often a need to create policies that have the aim of modifying the behaviours
of one group if they obviously violate the rights of others. This can only be achieved
by the careful management of behaviour where potential clashes may occur, which
involves people with skills in resolving conflict. Perhaps the simplest example of re-
striction can be seen in the context of age differences where teens are not allowed to
play in playgrounds designed for smaller children, since they may scare the younger
age groups and their mothers, illustrating the wider problem of needing spaces for
different groups. More generally, the issue shows the need for properly trained land-
use officers, community wardens, or even police, to monitor and deal with the prob-
lems that emerge between groups with different cultures and behaviours. They need
the power to intervene in the name of fairness if one group becomes a nuisance for
others, without removing the civil rights of the criticized group. Indeed, real equality
of opportunity may only be possible for the disadvantaged if some limits are placed
on the behaviour of others, to avoid clashes in life-styles breaking out into conflict.
Policies to create respect for all parties involved are required, so that the solutions are
not seen to be coercive for any group. The most difficult problems occur when one
group refuses to adjust their behaviours in the interest of creating greater harmony,
claiming it has the right, perhaps on religious grounds, for its approach. Diversity
may then become a problem, not an advantage for an area.
36
Critiques of Just City Approaches
There can be little doubt that this new emphasis upon specific redistributive jus-
tice measures at a city scale is long overdue. If these guides are adopted they will
produce useful results, not simply in relation to improving the quality of life of the
most disadvantaged, but in ways that can create more opportunities and fairness for
the majority of urban residents. However, despite the promise of the approach, the
current Just City literature does not normally deal with several broad categories of
issues that affect the extent to which more just cities can be created. These relate
to the limited powers of urban governments and territorial, inter-generational and
