Social Aspects of the Renewal of Towns in Yugoslavia

Abstract

Renewal of towns is not a widespread phenomenon in Yugoslavia. Primarily, this is because the process of urbanization has intensified only during the last few decades; particularly since 1948 has the full effect of increased industrialization on the urbanization process been felt. One of the critical needs to which this situation has given rise in almost all Yugoslav towns is the accelerated construction of housing to alleviate the general lack of living space. This has meant that renewal activities have had to be limited and that those requiring the demolition of housing units have been undertaken only in exceptional cases where living conditions were extremely adverse or were a possible source of epidemics. Such undertakings, which have been carried out in several towns, have been financed from local funds and have required no personal participation by the citizens. This form of renewal, involving as it does the elimination of extreme living conditions, represents, in fact, a social undertaking of the local governments concerned.