Grigoreva, E. A. (2025). From Justice to Efficiency: A Paradigm Shift in Conceptualizations of Ideal Urban Governance. Monitoring of Public Opinion: Economic and Social Changes, (5), 115–138. https: ...

Текст статьи на сайте журнала URL: https://monitoringjournal.ru/index.php/monitoring/article/view/3031 (дата обращения 11.11.2025)

Abstract

The escalating rate of urbanization presents a multifaceted array of challenges to global urban centers, encompassing heightened resource and infrastructural demands, amplified socioeconomic disparities, and increased anthropogenic environmental impact. Consequently, the identification of efficacious urban governance paradigms has become a critical imperative. This article presents a comparative-historical analysis of the evolving conceptualizations of the ideal city among social thinkers from the late 19th century to the present. The research aims to elucidate the specificity of contemporary perspectives on urban structure and, more particularly, urban governance. Contemporary ideal urban visions are characterized by a prioritization of “efficiency,” diverging from the historical emphasis on “justice” as the central tenet of ideal urban governance. This article posits a cautionary perspective regarding the potential ramifications of this paradigm shift for future urban development, highlighting the inherent risk of overlooking opportunities for societal reform and amelioration. Without a substantive focus on justice within urban governance frameworks, urban planning methodologies are unlikely to effectively challenge prevailing power structures and facilitate the establishment of more inclusive and equitable urban environments. Therefore, the formulation of an ideal urban vision that accords significant attention to the organization of social life constitutes a salient task for contemporary sociologists, whose endeavors should be integrated with those of urban planners and practitioners.