Neighbourhood Dynamics in Inner-Budapest - a realist approach

Abstract

The objective of the dissertation was to give a comparative analysis of neighbourhood dynamics in the inner-city of Budapest, under the post-socialist and at the same time globalised, new market economic circumstances. The urban phenomena that generated the need to take inner-city neighbourhood transformation as central in the study were the increasingly overwhelming change in the texture of the badly dilapidated historical residential area of Budapest and the fact that the renewal shows fairly varied patterns by neighbourhoods belonging to different districts. Renewal varies by being systematic or random; some goes along with extensive demolitions other projects show sensitivity to and the obvious intention of architectural heritage preservation. Nevertheless, whatever the strategy might be they all share one characteristic, which is the substantial population increase of the better-off. Meanwhile, in the same type of area there are still neighbourhoods devoid of interest for the investors. Besides, in spite of the increasing attention of the local authorities expressed in plans and strategies, the limited local resources, and the ownership structure hinder the halt to dilapidation. While the book deals mainly with the type of neighbourhood dynamism, meaning positive change in the quality of neighbourhoods, it also highlights the causes of stagnation and decline in other areas in the four districts discussed. For the analyses of the processes of neighbourhood regeneration such approach was chosen that focuses on the underlying structures, the relationship of actors in the process as well as the wider context and the historical path dependency of the neighbourhoods concerned, all based on the theoretical foundations of critical realism. The specified theoretical research culminated in identifying the problem field itself and in creating a base-model according to the philosophical principles of realism. The empirical research started only after specifying what phenomena, actors and relationships were to be examined closely to be able to see neighbourhood transformation in its complexity in the study areas and to apply the base model to these specific cases. In the research both the contextual part of the book and the case studies focused on spatial analyses of physical and social aspects of the urban environment and associated the quality of neighbourhoods with urban ecological factors and policy measures in the background of the given patterns as underlying structures. The other focus of attention was on the mechanisms – the local government, private sector and the non-profit sector – with a special focus on the first one having still substantial influence on the processes taking place in Budapest and in its districts. For the documentation of the upgrading provesses in the case study areas thematic maps, photos and models are used. The operation of the underlying structure are supported by personal interviews with members of the local authorities as well as civil and market actors.