Privatization And Public Participation In Israeli Urban Life

ABSTRACT: It has been argued that when most urban dwellers build private social networks they still fail to participate in public life. This has led to increased urban political paralysis and more socially isolated individuals. The authors test this hypothesis in a survey of middle class condominium residents in the Tel Aviv metropolitan area. The survey area is a low‐moderate rise, high‐density urban system with a majority of residents living in owner occupied apartments and with 38% of the working population getting to their jobs by public transportation. Data analysis indicates that the hypothesis fails to hold. Central city and suburban residents still make considerable use of the downtown area. These middle class residents participate in public life on the neighborhood level and on the broader metropolitan level. They also have rich private social networks which support a public network.