Influences
- Emerging independent nations
- Medical advances and other factors lead to rapid population growth and urbanization
- Cold War
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Explore the topics below to learn more about the urban development history featured in this timeline.
1950s
Influences | Policies and Programs | Institutional Roles | Methods, Tools, and Practices | Lessons and Outcomes
Summary
Government as architect
In the aftermath of World War II, governments strive to become architects of a new world order. Under the Marshall Plan, Western Allies undertake the reconstruction of Europe with an eye toward economic recovery, while the Soviet Union focuses on centralized planning. Former colonies and dependencies emerge as independent nations; multilateral and bilateral lending and technical assistance organizations are built to assist them.
New town planning dominates the urban development agenda, along with interest in modern building materials and pre-fabricated construction. Population growth leads to rapid urbanization, and new public sector systems designed to manage planning and development are overwhelmed. Squatter and informal settlements begin to proliferate.
The idea of slum upgrading takes root (John Turner, Peru), but the needs of low-income migrants flowing into the cities are largely overlooked. Master plans based on Western standards are overtaken by unregulated housing built without regard to water, sanitation, and essential services.
Policies and Programs
- Marshall Plan
- Centralized planning is introduced in the Soviet bloc countries
- Industrialization and technology transfer are seen as keys to development
- U.S. Foreign Aid – Point Four Program for economic and social progress
- Renewed interest in rural development, town and country planning, garden cities, and new towns counter urban ills
- New building materials and pre-fabricated housing are in vogue
Institutional Roles
- New nations begin to formulate institutional structures
- IBRD takes on developmental role envisioned during Bretton Woods Conference (1944)
- Birth of UNDP, Inter-American Development Bank
- Bi-lateral organizations created such as the US Technical Cooperation Administration (later becomes USAID)
- Ford Foundation becomes international
Methods, Tools, and Practices
- Master plans and new towns
- Centralized economic planning in the Soviet Union
- Tools of the trade: pencil and paper - manual typewriter - slide rule