Spatial planning systems in the 20th century

The history of urban and regional spatial planning in the 20th century unfolds in this chapter for the purpose of providing a background to the situation which emerged in the early years of the 21st century at the time of the 2008 economic crisis. The system prevailing at this point in time was to a large extent a product of the gradual evolution of planning since the beginning of the 20th century, to some extent even before the year 1900. This evolution is what the author tries to sketch in this chapter, in full knowledge that his viewpoint is that of a planner and not that of a historian, political scientist or sociologist. This account is necessary to enable an understanding of what was to follow and of the problems which had accumulated and had to be solved under great pressure after the eruption of the crisis. Although more space is given to the Greek story, the narrative offered by the author is not only about Greece, but also about countries affected in different degrees by the crisis, like Ireland, Italy, Portugal and Spain, but also Cyprus. Their historical background was naturally vastly different, but the author was surprised to identify similarities which he had not expected, a remark confirmed in more recent periods examined in subsequent chapters. Landmarks in the development of the spatial planning activity are highlighted and compared, placed as best as possible in the context of social, political and economic junctures. Short summaries are placed in recess at the end of all sections to assist the reader.