Modern civilisation has been driven by the notion that things can but go onwards and upwards with two versions of the vision being one of urbanisation in the context of technological and economic progress contrasted with another that saw the eventual achievement of a society of easy living and...

This paper considers the frequent discrepancies between theory and practice in Third World urban development programmes. Drawing upon three Southeast Asian case studies (the Philippines, Thailand and Indonesia), it highlights the importance of understanding the challenges posed for sustainable...