UN abandons democracy in Asia
The UN’s development agencies frequently operate in a political minefield. Stuck between the zealously guarded sovereignty of member states and the need to spur structural transformations, these agencies tread carefully. … Continue reading
When buildings burn, from London to Dhaka
Originally posted on Culture and Capitalism:
by Rebecca Prentice There is for me a sad familiarity in the story of the Grenfell Tower fire. I have spent recent years researching…
Environmental Injustice across Transnational Borders
Alexa Dietrich co-launches the “Just Environments” series by reflecting on the environmental challenges faced by transnational communities—in this case, families that live on opposite sides of the US-Mexico border, whose … Continue reading
Cities, Prosperity and Influence
This paper examines how cities can shape their own destinies and help address urban, national and international challenges. It explores the increasingly important balance between nations – which must give … Continue reading
Perceptions of ‘good work’ in the urban informal sector
[Behind paywall] There is growing interest in the ability of the informal sector to provide gainful work in much of the developing world. However, the literature on work in the … Continue reading
The Politics of Inclusive Development
It is now widely accepted that politics plays a significant role in shaping the possibilities for inclusive development. However, the specific ways in which this happens across different types and … Continue reading
Urban Planning and Violence: Cause or Catalyst for Change?
This paper argues that exclusion and violence are imprinted on the social and spatial fabric of cities and neighbourhoods, and that social and political divides are often manifest in the … Continue reading
A City Is Not a Computer
Shannon Mattern – We should reject data-driven models that delegate critical, often ethical decisions to the machine. Urban intelligence is more than information processing. Urban intelligence involves experience, observation, sensory … Continue reading
Value in the Commons Economy: Developments in Open and Contributory Value Accounting
Society is shifting from a production modus based on value created in a market system (through labor and capital) to one which recognizes broader value streams. These streams are experienced … Continue reading
Reading Development 