Beer Sheva As a Growth Machine
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I Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research Albert Katz International School for Desert Studies Beer Sheva as a Growth Machine Thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of “Master of Arts” By: Brian Rock March 2007 II Ben-Gurion University of the Negev Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research Albert Katz International School for Desert Studies Beer Sheva as a Growth Machine Thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of “Master of Arts” By Brian Rock Under the Supervision of Dr. Moshe Schwartz and Professor Isaac Meir Department of Man in the Drylands Author's Signature…………….…………………………………………Date:……… Approved by the Supervisor…………….………………………………..Date:……… Approved by the Director of the School …………………………………Date:……… III Beer Sheva as a Growth Machine Brian Rock This thesis in partial fulfillment for the degree of Master of Arts Ben-Gurion University of the Negev Jacob Blaustein Institute for Desert Research Albert Katz International School for Desert Studies 2007 2007 Abstract The growth machine theory, first proposed by Harvey Molotch in his paper The City as a Growth Machine: Toward a Political Economy of Place (1976) postulates that in American cities coalitions of local elites (land owners, politicians and bureaucrats) profit through promoting the idea that urban growth is good for everyone. They achieve this end through the manipulation of urban politics and media. The growth machine theory has also been used to explain urban growth outside the United States. In this study, through the lens of two case studies, Kanyon Ha’Negev and BIG, in Beer Sheva, Israel, an attempt is made to understand growth in Beer Sheva and whether or not the growth machine theory applies to it and helps understand it better. Despite the proponents’ declarations about how good these projects are for Beer Sheva, both have had an adverse effect on the Old City (and possibly on the city as a whole). Clearly growth is not good for everyone. Whose interests is the growth of Beer Sheva really serving? What are the portents of such growth for Beer Sheva? IV Acknowledgements This work was supported through a scholarship of the Albert Katz International School of Desert Studies. I would also like to thank the following individuals: Dr. Moshe Schwartz Professor Isaac Meir Dr. Yodan Rofe Wolfgang Motzafi-Haller Dorit Levin Esti Markovitch Dr. Gerald Young Shira Fundamensky Liat Frankel Uri Mintzker Segal Rosenfeld My deepest gratitude goes to my wife, Carina, and my Creator. This thesis is printed on 100% post-consumer-waste paper. V Abstract ........................................................................................................................ III Acknowledgements...................................................................................................... IV 1.0 Introduction.............................................................................................................. 3 1.1 Theories in the Urban Political Economy .......................................................... 5 1.1.1 Introduction................................................................................................... 5 1.1.2 Elite Theory................................................................................................... 5 1.1.3 Pluralist Theory............................................................................................. 6 1.1.4 Regime Theory.............................................................................................. 7 1.1.5 Human Ecology Theory................................................................................ 7 1.1.6 Marxist Theory.............................................................................................. 8 1.2.1 Growth Machine…Beginnings ..................................................................... 9 1.2.2 The growth machine in the US context......................................................... 9 1.2.3 The components of the growth machine ..................................................... 10 1.2.4 Urban Fortunes............................................................................................ 11 1.2.5 The growth machine in an international context......................................... 12 1.2.6 Summary ..................................................................................................... 12 2.0 Literature Review................................................................................................... 14 2.1 Introduction............................................................................................................ 14 2.2 Israeli and International Literature......................................................................... 14 2.3 US Studies.............................................................................................................. 18 3.0 Methodology .......................................................................................................... 20 3.0.1 Why Beer Sheva.......................................................................................... 20 3.0.2 Particular Study Questions.......................................................................... 22 3.0.3 Methodology ............................................................................................... 22 4.0 Israel’s Planning System........................................................................................ 24 4.0.1 Introduction................................................................................................. 24 4.0.2 National Planning........................................................................................ 25 4.0.3 District Planning ......................................................................................... 25 4.0.4 Local Planning ............................................................................................ 26 4.0.5 The Plans..................................................................................................... 26 4.0.6 National Outline Plans (or Schemes) .......................................................... 27 4.0.7 District Outline Schemes............................................................................. 28 4.0.8 Local Outline Plan....................................................................................... 28 4.0.9 Detailed Schemes........................................................................................ 28 4.0.10 Building Permits ....................................................................................... 29 4.0.11 Plan Implementation ................................................................................. 29 4.1 Land in Israel.......................................................................................................... 29 4.1.1 Introduction................................................................................................. 30 4.1.1 The Israel Lands Administration................................................................. 30 4.1.2 The Ministry of Construction and Housing ................................................ 31 4.1.3 The Jewish National Fund........................................................................... 32 5.0 The Negev .............................................................................................................. 33 5.0.1 The Outline Plan for the Southern District ................................................. 33 5.0.2 The Challenge of Periphery Development.................................................. 34 5.1 Beer Sheva ............................................................................................................. 36 5.1.1 Introduction................................................................................................. 36 VI 5.1.2 Early Settlement until the British Mandate in Beer Sheva ......................... 36 5.1.3 Zionist Ideological Planning ....................................................................... 37 5.1.4 Summary and Forward................................................................................ 40 6.0 Case Studies and Findings ..................................................................................... 41 6.0.1 Introduction: The Shopping Mall................................................................ 41 6.0.2 Kanyon Ha'Negev: David Azrieli and the Mall Concept............................ 41 6.0.3 Yitzchak Rager............................................................................................ 43 6.0.4 Moshe Zilberman ........................................................................................ 45 6.0.4 Eli Ron ........................................................................................................ 46 6.1 BIG......................................................................................................................... 46 6.2 Did Kanyon Ha'Negev and BIG develop according to Growth Machine Theory? Were there Coalitions?................................................................................................. 50 6.3 Who Benefits and Who Suffers as a Result of the two projects?........................... 53 7.0 Conclusions............................................................................................................ 55 References.................................................................................................................... 56 1 Figure 1: