Abstract

Detroit was once an important industry city in the United States. In the early 20th century, Henry Ford and other automobile pioneers established Detroit’s status as the world’s automotive capital. But in the 1960s and 1970s, Detroit began to decline not only in its population and economy, but in every aspect of the inner city. There are many factors contributing to the decline of the Motor City. Some main reasons cover the deterioration of public spaces, the failure of the industrial transformation and the serious racial conflict. The decline of a city certainly will lead to many severe consequences. The most severe results brought by the decline of Detroit are the deterioration of public spaces and bankruptcy of the city. This thesis mainly analyzes the decline of Detroit and the deterioration of its public spaces. The objectives of this thesis is to find out the relation between the deterioration of public spaces in Detroit and its decline. The methods mainly include literature research and analysis. 

Through the analysis about the causes and consequences of the decline of Detroit, it can be summed up that public spaces plays an important role in the existence and development of a city. The existence of public spaces not only meets the needs of urban residents, but promotes the normal operation and healthy development to a city. By analyzing the meanings and value of public spaces, it can be concluded that people need public space to lead public life. The deterioration of public spaces in Detroit and its decline are closely connected. Based on the analysis about the condition of public spaces in Detroit, it is shown in thesis that the decline causes the deterioration of public spaces, and the deterioration speeds up the decline in return. 

Key words: Detroit; public spaces; public life; decline of inner city; racial conflict

CONTENTS

Abstract

摘要

1.-Introduction-2

2.-The Decline of Detroit-4

2.1.  The Manifestations of the Decline-4

2.1.1. The Decline of the Population-4

2.1.2. The Decline of the Economy-5

2.1.3. The Decline of the Educational Level of the Population-5

2.2  The Causes of the Decline-8

2.2.1 The Failure of the Industrial Transformation-8

2.2.2 The Racial Conflict-8

2.2.3 The Financial Crisis and The Failure of The Government-10

2.2.4 Heavy Tax Burden-11

2.3 . The Results of the Decline-11

2.3.1 The Bankruptcy of Detroit-11

2.3.2 The Decline of Employment-12

2.3.3 Income and Poverty-12

2.3.4 Other Social Issues-12

3.-Public Spaces-14

3.1 The Meaning of Public Spaces-14

3.2 The Value of Public Spaces-14

3.3 The Nature of Public Life-16

3.4 The Needs in Public Spaces-16

4.  The Deterioration of Public Spaces in Detroit-17

4.1 The Condition of Public Spaces before Its Decline-17

4.2 The Deterioration of Public Spaces in Detroit-17

5.  The Relation between the Deterioration of Public Spaces in Detroit and Its Decline-20

5.1 The Decline of Inner City-20

5.2 The Deterioration Speeds up the Decline of Detroit-21

6.  Conclusion:-23

Reference.

Acknowledgement