4.3 Conclusion

A comparison of the state of the discussion in Germany and the USA shows decided differences regarding the protagonists of the discussion as well as the medium used and the type of information dispersal. The reason for this can be followed back to the different grounds of the problem.

In the U.S. numerous and diverse groups of different legal status and radius of action (local, regional, national) were founded explicitly for the purpose of dealing with urban sprawl, while in Germany the discussion is confined to professional circles.

Print is dominant in Germany, with regard to the medium in which the discussion is held. The U.S. on the other hand, uses a broad palette of communication tools ranging from radio, film, and television to the internet and newspapers. Specifically, Al Gore and his Livability Agenda have led to news coverage of the subject by large multi-regional media.

Apart from very few exceptions the spread of information in Germany is based entirely on typically factual and unillustrated printed material. The U.S. too makes use mostly of text, despite a onetime echo in the media. The texts are illustrated in Germany, as well as the U.S. with simple graphics and photography, in addition making use of figure-ground plans spanning several years of development to show the growth of metropolitan regions.

Beyond this and contrary to what is usual in Germany, the U.S. makes use of the spoken word (in film, television, and radio) as well as motion pictures (in film and animation on the internet) to spread information.

Neither country visualizes possible future developments based on different starting situations (scenarios). A glimpse of the future is mainly confined to vague and non-specific general information. Possible change is not documented with the aid of animation or pictures, but rather with columns of figures, if at all.

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