The Urban International and the City: A Comparative Study of International Urban Institutions

My research investigates the history of two planning institutions, the IFHP-International Federation for Housing and Planning and GCLG-Global Cities and Local Governments, its characteristics, network of participants, changes in its policies as well as the role of countries, institutions, groups and individuals in its decisions, policies and intellectual output. The IFHP was created as the International Garden-Cities Association in 1913 and still exists. GCLG was created as IULA-International Union of Local Authorities also in 1913 and still exists. I investigate the role of these institutions in the international flow of planning thought and practice and in urban management, as well as their role in the constitution of a transnational community of planners. One of the questions to be discussed is how far certain national, regional and  particular experiences in housing, planning and management were adopted in certain periods by the institutions. In another direction, the ressonance or influence of certain ideas and policies of the IFHP and GCLG in specific, national or regional experiences in housing, planning and related areas will also be explored.