Organising Capacity and Social Policies in European Cities

Abstract

This article compares two European cities—Rotterdam and Strasbourg—and analyses what strategies have been developed by the various actors involved to combat social problems. It argues that the success of the city's social strategies is largely dependent on its organising capacity. The social strategies of the cities have been analysed according to a theoretical framework of organising capacity. It is found from the comparison that social policies are not sufficiently integrated with other urban policies, such as economic, spatial and housing policies; that rigid public structures are a barrier to effective solutions; and, that public departments are not used to co-operation, which hampers linking problems to opportunities.