The major cities of the West are characterized by division, uneven development, and unequal distribution of jobs. In Belfast, these general western-city characteristics are extended and heightened by association with a long-standing political crisis and conflict. Covering a range of North American and European cities, but focusing on Belfast's social, economic and political developments, this collection considers the role of long-term urban planning in the development of cities.


Frank Gaffikin is Co-Director of the Urban Institute. He has been involved in community development and urban regeneration for a number of years and is the author of several books on the theme of urban regeneration. He is currently carrying out work on the Belfast City Region, Belfast Partnership and the Belfast European Partnership and is doing work with Belfast City Council on economic development. Mike Morrissey was Senior Researcher on The Cost of the Troubles Study and is the Director of the Urban Institute, University of Ulster. Together they have coauthored Northern Ireland’s Troubles: The Human Costs and Personal Accounts from Northern Ireland’s Troubles: Public Conflict, Private Loss, both available from Pluto Press.