Urbanized Defense Communities: A Literature Review on the Policies, Politics, and Planning of Military Readiness and Local Land Use in the United States

Abstract

Propelled in the United States during the twentieth century, land use compatibility issues between military installations and neighboring communities amplified due to rapid population growth, sprawling regional development, and limited intergovernmental planning. This literature review examines how the policies, politics, and planning practices aimed at combating land use incompatibilities in defense communities changed from the early twentieth century to today. Through the consolidation of established theories, this article reveals a reactive paradigm shift in institutional responses. The triaxial spectrum presented in this review offers a theoretical framework for future empirical studies of defense land use policies, politics, and planning practices.