Developing Frontier Cities: Global Perspectives — Regional Contexts(52 GeoJournal Library)

The Unique Nature of Frontier Cities and their Development Challenge Harvey Lithwick and Yehuda Grad us The advent of government downsizing, and globalization has led to enormous com­ petitive pressures as well as the opening of new opportunities. How cities in remote frontier areas might cope with what for them might appear to be a devastating challenge is the subject of this book. Our concern is with frontier cities in particular. In our earlier study, Frontiers in Regional Development (Rowman and Littlefield, 1996), we examined the distinction between frontiers and peripheries. The terms are often used interchangeably, but we believe that in fact, both in scholarly works and in popular usage, very different connotations are conveyed by these concepts. Frontiers evoke a strong positive image, of sparsely settled territories, offering challenges, adventure, unspoiled natural land­ scapes, and a different, and for many an attractive life style. Frontiers are lands of opportunity. Peripheries conjure up negative images, of inaccessibility, inadequate services and political and economic marginality. They are places to escape from, rather than frontiers, which is were people escape to. Peripheries are places of and for losers.

Table of Contents:
One: Frontier Urban Development in a Global Context.- 1. Moving Frontiers: A Local-Global Perspective.- 2. The Frontier Metropolis in the Twenty-First Century.- 3. Institutional Requirements for New Local, National and Multinational Planning Realities in Europe.- 4. The Future of Frontier Cities.- 5. Living on the Edge: Conditions of Marginality in the Canadian Urban System.- 6. Innovation Networks, Dynamic Externalities and Peripheral Cities in a Global Context.- Two: Case Studies.- 7. Developing Frontier Cities: Lessons from the Cities of the Prairie Program.- 8. Modernization and the Mobilization of Public Capital: Developing Pueblo, Colorado, 1960–1997.- 9. Globalization and Cities in Frontier Regions: A Case Study of Northern Australia.- 10. Competitive Advantage in Frontier Regions of Europe: Redefining the Global-Local Nexus.- 11. Alternative Models of Urban Development in Frontier Regions: The Case of Friuli, Italy.- 12. Local Initiatives in Peripheral Areas: An Intercultural Comparison Between Two Case Studies in Brazil and Austria.- 13. The Polyurban Frontier in Post-Industrial Israel.- 14. The Challenge of Industrial Development for Israel’s Frontier Cities.- 15. New Egyptian Desert Cities.- 16. Urban Development at the Ecuador Amazon Frontier: Boom Towns or Gloom Towns.

Review :
`In general, the collective volume makes a very good impression and leaves few doubts concerning the high degree of proficiency of it authors and editors. Unquestionably, the book may appeal to a wide audience, ranging from economists and regional planners to students of population geography, and all those concerned with the future of regional development planning.' International Journal of Population Geography, 7:1 (2001)