Allan Cochrane, The Open University

Presented to Towards a sustainable and just city region? Conference, TU

Berlin, November 2013

‘What do we do when we compare cities?

Reflections on Berlin, London and Paris

Learning from elsewhere Viewing elsewhere from here -

problem definitions and questions Dangers of laboratory metaphor Looking for ways of allowing

elsewhere to speak for itself – the challenge of learning to listen

The possibilities of policy mobility

Why compare?

Defining the capital city – does it always mean the same?

Defining and questioning the metropolitan region Greater South East or Greater London Berlin-Brandenburg Paris-Île-de-France or beyond

Systems of planning, systems of governance

Comparing what?

Importance of thick description – delivering case studies

Questioning assumptions and understanding context

Just because it works there, that does not mean it will work here

BUT also acknowledging echoes and shared challenges

Lessons