Changing public space

of public space, it could also make that space less accessible. Examples from American malls
show that private owners try to achieve their profit-generating potential by increasing their
control over public space at the expense of free access (Staeheli & Mitchell, 2006). Undesired
visitors – usually non-consumers such as vagrants and the homeless but also youngsters – are
banned from malls in all kinds of ways. The situation in Dutch public spaces might not be that
extreme. Nevertheless, the question of accessibility is still relevant here: how can urban spaces
be kept attractive without restricting their use? This is important, as public space is seen as a
public good and the foundation for democracy (Hénaff & Strong, 2001). The present research
aims to determine the extent to which decreasing free access is a problem in the Netherlands
by investigating how the actors involved in the redevelopment of Dutch public spaces deal with
issues of access and surveillance.
1.7 Outline of the thesis
The thesis consists of a theoretical part (Chapter 2-4) and an empirical part (Chapter 6-8),
which are separated by a methodological justification in Chapter 5. However, the thesis can also
be outlined differently, as visualised in Figure 1.1. The figure divides the thesis into three parts:
one introducing and researching public space (covering Chapter 1, 2, and 5); one summarising
and evaluating the research results (Chapter 9); and one mid-section that explores the relation
between changing society and changing public space (Chapter 3, 4, 6, 7, and 8). The underlying
assumption that changes in society can affect public space directly and indirectly via changes in
the set of actors and policies will be confronted with theoretical positions and empirical evidence
and hopefully be demonstrated as valid. In the course of that confrontation, the envisioned
insight will hopefully coalesce.
Part I: Introducing and researching public space
Introduction
(Chapter 1)
City squares as research subject
(Chapter 2)
Research design and
methodology
(Chapter 5)
Part II: Exploring the relation between a changing society and changing public space
Changing society
(Chapter 3)
Changing role of public space
(Chapter 6, 7, 8)
Changing set of actors
and policies
(Chapter 4)
Part III: Summarising and evaluating the research results
Conclusions, reflections,
and implications
(Chapter 9)
Figure 1.1 Outline of the thesis
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