This study tests the potential of a facilitated action-research approach in participative urban design projects to act as catalysts in countering social violence in distressed quarters of France. It evaluates the FAR programme (Formation Action Recherche pour la coproduction et gestion des espaces publics) in the region Nord – Pas de Calais as a local strategy for achieving the national objectives of social reform – as envisioned by President Mitterand and encapsulated in the national Politique de la Ville. Significantly, this study identifies the critical importance of positive political will at all levels in achieving the goals of the Politique de la Ville, and it provides a possible explanation for the failure of previous attempts to engage residents effectively. It also indicates possible future strategies for planning participative projects where they are intended to promote integrated social, urban and economic development.

LES CONSEQUENCES DE LA CONCENTRATION DES POPULATIONS DANS LES VILLES ONT, DEPUIS PLUSIEURS DIZAINES D'ANNEES, ATTIRE L'ATTENTION DES POUVOIRS PUBLICS SUR LE PHENOMENE URBAIN. LA REACTION DE L'ETAT S'EST CONCRETISEE PAR LA FORMALISATION D'UNE NOUVELLE POLITIQUE PUBLIQUE, QUALIFIEE DE POLITIQUE DE LA VILLE. A TRAVERS CETTE POLITIQUE, L'ETAT N'APPREHENDE PLUS UNIQUEMENT LA VILLE A L'AIDE DE PARAMETRES TECHNIQUES, COMME CELUI DE L'URBANISME, MAIS DIVERSIFIE ET ADAPTE SON INTERVENTION EN FONCTION DE PROBLEMES JURIDIQUES, ADMINISTRATIFS, SOCIAUX OU POLITIQUES RENCONTRES PAR LES VILLES. L'ETAT CONCOIT LA VILLE, DE PLUS EN PLUS, COMME UN SYSTEME SOCIAL COMPLEXE. POURTANT, COMMENT LE DROIT VA-T-IL PRENDRE EN CONSIDERATION UNE NOTION, LA VILLE, QU'IL NE RECONNAIT PAS COMME L'UN DE SES CONCEPTS ? NOTRE TRAVAIL A CONSISTE A CERNER ET A EVALUER LES IMPLICATIONS JURIDIQUES DE LA POLITIQUE DE LA VILLE. LA THESE SOUTENUE ENTEND DEMONTRER QUE LES POLITIQUES AYANT LA VILLE POUR OBJET SONT A L'ORIGINE DE L'AFFIRMATION D'UN DROIT SOCIAL URBAIN, CARACTERISE PAR UN IMPERATIF DE SOLIDARITE ENVERS LES POPULATIONS LES PLUS DEFAVORISEES VIVANT DANS LES VILLES. DANS UN DEUXIEME TEMPS, LA POLITIQUE DE LA VILLE SE CARACTERISE PAR DES DISPOSITIONS ADMINISTRATIVES SPECIFIQUES. LES REPONSES ADMINISTRATIVES AUX OBJECTIFS DE LA POLITIQUE DE LA VILLE SE REPARTISSENT EN TROIS EVOLUTIONS PRINCIPALES : UNE ADAPTATION DES STRUCTURES ADMINISTRATIVES, UNE COOPERATION VERTICALE ET UNE PARTICIPATION DES HABITANTS A LA VIE LOCALE.

This book explores the role of cities and the urban–rural linkages in spurring innovation embedded in spatial planning, strategic and economic planning, and decision support systems. In particular, the contributions examine the complexity of the current transitional phase towards achieving smart, inclusive and sustainable growth, and investigate the post-2020 UE cohesion policy.The main topics include: Innovation dynamics and smart cities; Urban regeneration – community-led and PPP; Inland and urban area development; Mobility, accessibility, infrastructures; Heritage, landscape and Identity; and Risk management, Environment and Energy.The book includes a selection of articles accepted for presentation and discussion at the 3rd International Symposium New Metropolitan Perspectives (ISTH2020), held at the University of Reggio Calabria, Italy on 22–25 May 2018. The symposium, which addressed the challenge of local knowledge and innovation dynamics towards territory attractiveness, hosted the final event of the MAPS-LED project under Horizon2020 – MSCA RISE.

The Academy is a prestigious international institution for the study and teaching of Public and Private International Law and related subjects. This work of the Hague Academy aims to encourage an impartial examination of the problems arising from international relations in the field of law.