Abstract
Two important themes in the understanding of urban progressive development are discussed. The first is the discussion of a grassroots form of neighborhood collective action as an important element of the progressive city. Second is an evaluation of the relationship between protest and progress. These two themes are brought together in discussing the contrasting neighborhood cases of Tangbu in Taipei and Mahakan in Bangkok. These cases show how a national context of the democratization of politics is important in making city governments responsive to local demands. This local government responsiveness in turn creates mechanisms and policy tools which enable aspirations to be met at neighborhoods and local areas. In summary, the progressive city can be established with strong democracy movements at the national level, with the movement of reformist/progressive individuals entering into local government through the popular vote, the creation of institutional features which allow for local community participation, and the creation of alternative discourses of social value which challenge a market-driven and big business approach to urban development.
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- 1.
30 January 2015 interview with Professor Tai Po Fen, a planner by training who teaches at Furen University sociology department and who also stays in the Tangpu.
- 2.
Interviewed 16 November 2010.
- 3.
Interviewed 12 March 2015.
- 4.
See, http://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/bangkok/2017/03/15/harvard-anthropologist-defends-pom-mahakan-community/. Accessed 25 May 2017.
- 5.
Interview conducted on 19 March 2014.
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Ho, K.C. (2019). Cities of Protest and Cities of Progress. In: Douglass, M., Garbaye, R., Ho, K. (eds) The Rise of Progressive Cities East and West. ARI - Springer Asia Series, vol 6. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-0209-1_12
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