Comment on 'Soviet New Towns, Planning and National Urban Policy'

Prior to the fall of Communism in the USSR, urban planning was a centralized process that did not take into account differences in the potential of communities and did not include the necessary funding to support the social services and infrastructure development. Under a democratic society, a new national urban development policy must be initiated, and must address improved communication centers and additional seaports, airports, a new system of national capitals, a strengthened role for towns on the national borders, increased human migration from poorer regions, and the elimination of centralized planning.