ABSTRACT
Citing economic indicators and architectural and planning practices, some scholars have argued that cities of the Third World and the First World are becoming increasingly similar. Others disagree with this convergence theory, claiming that these similarities are only superficial. In this chapter, I address this theoretical debate by arguing that the discrepancies between the two theories are more apparent than real. I further propose to focus more on the convergent approaches to the solutions of the problems rather than on the similarities of the problems themselves, stressing the role that citizen participation and urban governance have had in successful urban experiences both in Third and First World cities. In Part II of this book, this role is exemplified with the politics of urban and regional development in Curitiba and Portland.
