Challenges, threats and opportunities in post-conflict urban development in Kosovo

This paper reports on a special case of restoration of municipal urban planning
practice in a post-conflict context. In Kosovo, the administrative environment in
which the practice of urban planning and mobility management is embedded is
characterized by a high degree of instability. The main reason for this is the transition
from a rather centralized form of urban planning, a typical aspect of the Yugoslav
planned economy, into a markedly free form of development, characterized by loose
control by the authorities. Although this trend can be observed to some extent in
many former socialist countries, the Kosovo war in 1999 has dramatically
accelerated this process. Given the very European-oriented historic settlement
structure, based on a hierarchy of relatively small and compact cities, this trend
entails many problems in the areas of environment, infrastructure, mobility,
landscape, and property rights.
This paper gives an overview of the reasons for this evolution and assesses possible
solutions based on field experience from two support programmes (MuSPP by UNHabitat,
and MobKos by the Flemish Government (Belgium)) that are operating in
the regional city of Peja/Pec.

Jaar van publicatie:2012

Trefwoorden:post-conflict urban planning, informal urban development, Kosovo