Steering urban policy for reaching development and social welfare – lessons from Scandinavia

Abstract

This article analyses the way of managing urban policy in Scandinavian countries, as an example for Serbia. By analyzing urban policy as complex activity, because it demands contextual approach, democratic governmental capacities, good management with capacities to tail services according to the needs of citizens in their community, we could understand cities as stimulators of development and creators of welfare.

This analysis tries to identify how Serbia, as transitional country can learn lessons from Scandinavian countries, to modernize management, democratize political system (decentralization and strengthening local government capacities), as well as to decrease corruption and misuses in public affairs.

In methodological sense this article includes analysis of the system, the way of creation and steering urban policy in Scandinavian countries with affirmation of knowledge (evidence based public policy) and professionalism. Case study of Copenhagen city and experiences from other cities from this region, will procure in view of potential benefits of such an approach. On this basis comparison is made with similar processes in Serbia, which give us possibility to identify necessary corrections in our system.

Some of the results of this paper are better knowledge of Serbian system weaknesses (especially in way of managing cities), loss of benefits which democratic and decentralized society enables, modern management, creation of policies on evidence, and creative searching for solution. One can conclude that reform changes, which turn out to be impossible for implementation in our society, do not demand great material investments, but demand the changing of values, priorities and model of behavior.