The state and housing protest

West, Derek R (1981) The state and housing protest. MPhil(R) thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

This study attempts to show that it is myopic to analyse housing protest by merely considering activity only at the local level. The Causes of housing protest, we shall contend, are not usually local, and involve wider social and economic forces in society. An analysis which ignores these is inadequate. Chapter One looks at five ideal-typical models of the agency towards which housing protest has become increasingly directed, the state. Each perspective implies a different view of the state, it's position in society and it's potential for reacting to institutionalised or non-institutionalised protest. Chapter Two considers theories of the local state. As the on-the- spot provider of housing, the local state is the recipient of much housing protest, and we examine the efficacy of the five perspectives for analysing the local state's position. We select three perspectives which have potential for explaining different aspects of protest, namely - the internal workings of the local state, the protest groups themselves, and central/local government relations. Chapter Three examines state involvement in housing, and relates this to the explanations posited by the five perspectives as a test of their efficacy in explaining such involvement. We also examine state housing policy as a basis for protest, and find that such a basis exists in at least three areas of policy. In Chapter Four we consider the protest groups themselves, how and why they form, and barriers to that formation: we also categorise protest activity according to its source, the level of activity, and the types of activity. Chapter Five describes the Gorbals Anti-Dampness Campaign, as an example of housing protest, as well as drawing out some points from an examination of the squatting movement. In Chapter Five end Chapter Six we attempt to relate the theories of the state, and their implications for analysing protest activity to these campaigns, and draw some conclusions from this.

• Item Type: Thesis (MPhil(R))
• Qualification Level: Masters
• Additional Information: Adviser: David Donnison
• Keywords: Urban planning
• Date of Award: 1981
• Depositing User: Enlighten Team
• Unique ID: glathesis:1981-74132
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 23 Sep 2019 15:33
• Last Modified: 23 Sep 2019 15:33
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/74132