Integrative analysis of city systems: Bangkok "Man and the Biosphere" programme study

This paper argues that integrative analysis of city systems helps us to see beyond their current environmental and social problems to underlying cause s, and it suggests different opportunities for possible interventions. Focu sing on a single aspect of a city or its people without understanding its c ontext risks interventions which treat symptoms rather than causes and whos e short-term "solution" often means that the problem returns in the same or perhaps a different form. Our integrative analysis of Bangkok suggests tha t the root of its environmental (and some social) problems lie in decision- making structures and a political culture which has historically fostered s elf interested decisions by stakeholders rather than the public interest. T his has produced a land use and built environment configuration that largel y ignores the functioning of the natural flood plain ecosystem and the well -being of residents. People adapt their behaviour to their environment but often in ways that have serious cumulative impacts on the city. This analys is suggests that problems need to be addressed at their source: the nature of decision-making by stakeholders, at every level. This requires the engag ement of all parties inside and outside government, the elite and otherwise . To the extent that planning has a viable role, the focus needs to be on t he source of the impacts, such as national development planning, rather tha n in sectors such as transport, where the problems are evident.