London and Jerusalem: Whose planning, whose power, whose diversity?

London and Jerusalem – two cities so different, so contrasting, the global and the holy city. What could be the common base for a discussion on these two cities? It is argued here that they share similar aspects of the power of the ‘politics of planning and development’ that shape them. In London, the ‘politics of planning and development’ reflect the capitalist power relations between the different actors involved in the city expansion especially into the East End and Spitalfields-Brick Lane area. The ‘politics of planning and development’ in Jerusalem mirror nationalistic and territorial interests, using professional tools and planning mechanisms to control and oppress the Palestinian population in the city. In both cases the power relation interests between the different actors is the core issue in understanding the ‘planning games’ that shape and reshape cityscapes.