Urban and Community Development in Atlantic Canada, 1867-1991

Lynn Bestari is a community development consultant in Guelph, Ontario.

While fragmentation provides the context for this book, the focus is on
resistance—the struggle of urbanites to shape and reshape their
milieux and realities in response to external forces.

The book is divided into three parts. Each part opens with an
introduction that positions the scholarly chapters and the issues
discussed within disciplines and subject areas. Each chapter is followed
by a list of references.

Part 1 focuses on sociopolitical factors and serve as examples of the
current state of urban research. Part 2 deals with urban anthropology
and self-conscious efforts to shape social interaction. These include
such commonalities of speech as catchwords and clichés to provide a
basis for interaction; use values, dependent on place; peer relations,
which must be constructed; and a discussion of society in three
countries—Iran, Egypt, and Canada. Part 3 focuses on planners and
their position vis-а-vis the problems plaguing urban dwellers. The
editors state that it is the planners “who best highlight the problems
of the public realm.” All in all, this is a well-researched,
well-presented collection of information.