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 causes,
and it suggests different opportunities for possible interventions. Focusing on a
single aspect of a city or its people without understanding its context risks interventions
which treat symptoms rather than causes and whose short-term “solution”
often means that the problem returns in the same or perhaps a different form. Our
integrative analysis of Bangkok suggests that the root of its environmental (and some
social) problems lie in decision-making structures and a political culture which has
historically fostered self interested decisions by stakeholders rather than the public
interest. This has produced a land use and built environment configuration that
largely ignores the functioning of the natural flood plain ecosystem and the wellbeing
of residents. People adapt their behaviour to their environment but often in
ways that have serious cumulative impacts on the city. This analysis suggests that
problems need to be addressed at their source: the nature of decision-making by stakeholders,
at every level. This requires the engagement of all parties inside and outside
government, the élite and otherwise. To the extent that planning has a viable role, the
focus needs to be on the source of the impacts, such as national development planning,
rather than in sectors such as transport, where the problems are evident.