Sustainability of Mega-City Regions Won-Bae Kim Korea Research Institute for Human Settlements
Major Questions What are differences between cities and mega-city regions? How do we approach the sustainability question? Why is the art of governance essential? What do we need to know about the process
Why Mega-City Regions? Mega-cities do not function as islands but they are functionally interdependent with their hinterlands As mega-city regions expand, there will be more inter-jurisdictional problems sometimes even across the national border
Framework to Grasp the Totality of Sustainability Problem Without a proper framework, our efforts tend to become fragmentary and pointless The framework requires our understanding on objectives, setting, actors and processes
Objectives What do we really want to sustain? Is it the city, its people, the ecological environment or all of these? Some emphasizes ecology, while others people s life, and still others basic survival We need a balanced view incorporating the three elements of ecology, economy and equity
Ecology is not an Object Environmental crisis may stem from the way that human-beings interact with nature But the solution for it cannot be derived from the relationship between human and nature Without establishing proper interpersonal (inter-national) relations, we cannot build desirable relations between human and nature
The Setting How (East) Asian context is different from the West? Different socio-cultural systems with different development orientations Developmental state may be the past but developmental city still exists Market principles are not firmly rooted in East Asian cultures
Market versus State Market State
Actors State A Intermediary Organizations Corporatist Alliances/ "Partnerships" B Civil Society Economic Class C Private Sector
The Process State Society Economy Environment Civil Society Private Sector
Approaches to Sustainable Development of MCRs How to achieve three goals: Livability, economic competitiveness, and social justice in MCRs Technology, economic incentives, education, and planning are useful tools but they are not fundamental elements to effect changes Art of governance is the most critical element for the sustainability of MCRs
Livable MCRs Economic spaces overwhelming life spaces in MCRs Mega-structures in contrast to slums & shanty towns Safe & clean environment for all the inhabitants in MCRs
Economically Vibrant MCRs MCRs are the growth engine of national economies and the global economy Jobs for the inhabitants still are the first priority for many MCRs Increasing inter-city competition calls for better quality of life to induce FDI and talents (not necessarily contradicting with the livability goal)
Socially Just MCRs I Despite success in lessening some of the worst aspects of basic needs poverty in MCRs, deficits still remain in habitat issues (housing, land, water, etc.) Relative deprivation and income inequalities are rising due to the globalization
Socially Just MCRs II Poverty should be understood as being part of socially constructed system of entitlements rather than simply basic needs poverty Illegal foreign migrants and floating population should be brought into the process of regional governance
Why Collaborative Governance? The scale and complexity of problems in MCRs require concerted efforts of all the actors Good governance & good management are critical in problem solving and yet they are context-dependent Singapore model is effective but can it be transferred to other countries?
How to Build Collaborative Governance Opportunities for collaborative governance must be seized in each context of MCRs Policy initiatives and building collaborative capacities should be simultaneously carried within the dynamics of the process mentioned earlier
Example 1. Region Policy Contested by the Corporate Sector, Local Governments and NGOs Central government MOIR, MOFE MOCT, MOGAHA Local government ICR Capital Region policy Local government OCR Corporate sector NGOs & Forums
Example 2. Greenbelt Policy Deconstructed Central government Local government Property owners & greenbelt residents Greenbelt readjustment policy NGOs
Strategic Thinking on Collaborative Governance Principles of collaborative governance needs to be tailored to the realities of each context The three goals should be explicitly introduced We need to adopt performance criteria We need to find out major bottlenecks and pressure points to transform into a collaborative governance
Policy Research Agenda The three elements of strategic thinking are essentially operating rules of collaborative governance To find out pressure points and bottlenecks, we need careful case studies
Outline of Case Studies I The proposition to be tested: how collaborative governance assists in meeting the three key goals The scale question must be addressed Variables such as jurisdictional conflict and resolution, extent of citizen participation, the extent of decentralization should be included
Outline of Case Studies II In terms of substance, analyze the major channels of effecting changes for the sustainable development (e.g., technology, institutional measures, education, or cultural resources-esp. Asian cultural traditions) All these channels should be identified with necessary political and cultural background Background of particular projects and approached need to be carefully documented
Recommendations Establish an Association of (East) Asian Mega-City Regions to learn from each other s experience in coping with the sustainable development of MCRs Carry out case studies of selected MCRs to refine the framework for collaborative governance