The policy of new cities in light of legal realities: The case of Algeria

While cities are constantly undergoing interventions, the “new city” is marketed as a model that inspires ambition: an attractive, sustainable, even contemporary urban space. The objective is lofty, and the challenges involved are equally sizable. In Algeria, legal frameworks, despite their formal solidity, are often influenced by prescriptive literature that neglects certain aspects and is even ambivalent toward others. Objectives are increasingly being reoriented, and the challenges are becoming clearer: Functionalist approaches are being revived, and targeted projects continue. This work analyzes the legal measures and frameworks in place, along with their impact, to account for the official objectives of these urban policies.