Where is the ‘Social’ in Constructions of ‘Liveability’? Exploring Community, Social Interaction and Social Cohesion in Changing Urban Environments

Abstract

Ongoing changes in the urban environment have renewed interest in the transformation of cities and suburbs as liveable places. This article examines the limitations inherent in a functional (objective) notion of liveability that commonly underpins government policy directions. Through an examination of key debates in the literature we consider how the delivery of the social (subjective) dimension of liveability, linked to community, social interaction and social cohesion, poses unique challenges for policy makers, urban planners and developers. We argue for a deeper understanding of the social constructs of liveability that acknowledges the complexity of changing urban environments in contemporary society.

城市环境的变化使得人们对于城市和郊区的宜居性有了不同的认识。本文考察政 府政策指导所依据的功能性（客观）宜居概念的自身局限，通过检索文献中的重 要争论, 思考宜居的社会（主观）面向如何与共同体、社会互动和社会凝聚力相 联系, 对政策制定者、规划者和开发者提出了独特的挑战。我们认为应深刻理解 宜居性的社会建构，承认当代社会城市环境变化的复杂性。

Key Words:

• Liveability
• community
• social interaction
• social cohesion
• urban change