TECHNOBUREAUCRACY ANO CITY LIFE This stark contrast between the living conditions of the urban poor and what has come to be accepted as a reasonable standard by the majority of the population, helps to put the « inner city problem » in its proper perspective. Clearly, every government must be seen to oe doing something about the « inner city», if for nothing else, to avoid giving the parliamentary opposition some very embarassing ammunition. However, in a hierarchial society in which consent depends on the maintenance of social and economie differentials any serious attempt to eradicate proverty would be too dangerous. A system whieh does not want to provide access to decent housing and well-paid jobs to sections of the population either on grounds of race, lack of occupational status, or whatever, cannot avoid explosions of violence from the people most adversely affected. Openly repressive methods of state contro! would merely augment the violence that already exists. The adoption of methods which persuade the urban poor to participate in the management of their own poverty, as is the case with the « poverty programme », serves most of the needs of the hierarchical status quo. THEORIES OF THE CITY The various theories of the growth, development, shape and differentiation of cities reveal a great deal about the socia! structures predominant in cities. However, these theories have various limitations. « Much of the fìeld of urban and regional studies has been incorporated into, or adapted from, the established discìplines of the social sciences. Each of these disciplines is bound by its specifìcally defìned theoretical foundations with a resulting selective outlook and approach to urban and regional problems ... Thus ... traditional economists have their basis in the « market », geographers in spatial logie, and planners, though more a profession than a discipline, in producing various schemes which are intended to lead to the « good life ». From the genera! range of these disciplines and professions have come partieular specialisms, such as regional economics and urban sociology, which attempt to explain urban and regional issues in terms of the particular expertise that the individuai discipline is endowed with » (24 ). (24) D.C. MC CULLOCH, Residential Rehabilitation and Housing Markets, Thesis for M. Soc. Sci. - Centre for Urban and Regional Studies, 1975 p.p. 18-19. 27
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