Urbanization and decentralization are overwhelming trends in almost every country of the world. Together they place a heavy burden on urban managers but at the same time generate tremendous opportunities for institutional change. Governing Cities provides insight into the effects of these global trends and the innovative efforts of governments, the private sector and communities to capitalize on the potential they unleash for improved governance of the cities they inhabit. The editors distil and discuss the elements contributing to the changing role of urban management: the prerequisites for and effects of decentralization - the importance of good governance and attention to cultural diversity - the role and potential of technological developments - the importance of formulating policies at city level. Governing Cities analyses practical experiences from formerly highly centralized economies of Eastern Europe as well as initiatives - both successful and less successful - in countries as diverse as India, Ethiopia, Indonesia and Brazil.

Prelims (Contents, The Urban Management Series, Preface, List of figures, List of tables, List of acronyms and abbreviations)
1. Introduction
Meine Pieter van Dijk, Marike Noordhoek, Emiel Wegelin
PART I: THE CHANGING ROLE OF GOVERNMENT IN URBAN MANAGEMENT
2. Towards more cooperative cities: examples of the principle of partnership in Brazil
Maria Teresa Corrêa de Oliveira
3. Slum Redevelopment Scheme in Mumbai: building castles in the air?
Padma Desai
4. Emerging institutional forms for urban management in developing countries: institutionalizing the Integrated Urban Infrastructure Development Programme approach in Indonesia
Hendropranoto Suselo, Robert van der Hoff
5. Access to an urban field in Ethiopia
Coen Beeker
6. Urban management and the stakeholders: evolving development perspectives, policies and external support
Emiel A. Wegelin
PART II: THE INCREASING ROLE OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR IN URBAN DEVELOPMENT
7. ROSCAs and housing finance in Hyderabad, India: potential for development
Peer Smets
8. NGOs/CBOs and housing for low-income people in Albania
Besnik Aliaj
9. Cooperation between governmental, non-governmental and community-based organizations: the Bangalore Urban Poverty Alleviation Programme
Joop W. de Wit
PART III: THE INCREASING IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC–PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS
10. A bottom-up approach within the top-down tradition of Belarus: action planning behind the former Iron Curtain
Deniz Baharoglu, Carla Lepelaars
11. Public–private and community partnerships for urban low-cost housing in Indonesia
Joris van Etten
12. Urban information systems as a basis for urban management in the developing world
Meine Pieter van Dijk
13. Conclusions
Meine Pieter van Dijk, Marike Noordhoek, Emiel Wegelin
Back Matter (List of contributors, Notes, References, Index)

Meine Pieter van Dijk Meine Pieter van Dijk, is Professor of urban management at Erasmus University