Reading Development

Random readings on society, politics and change – Jorge Carrillo

Will the World’s Emerging Megacities Turn the Corner? For Most of Them, Probably Not

People assume that the world’s emerging megacities will ultimately be successful, maybe even very successful. Places like São Paulo and Istanbul are held up as global cities in the making. Even … Continue reading →

Saturday, 14 June 2014 · Leave a comment

The Sum Of All-isms: An unsolicited manifesto for the New Cities Foundation

Cities flourish, because of us and often despite us. Certain cities now surpass entire nations, both in terms of population and the size of their economy: there are more inhabitants … Continue reading →

Saturday, 7 June 2014 · Leave a comment

The Potential and Limits of the ‘Resilience Agenda’ in Peri-urban Contexts

Béné et al – Today, it is acknowledged that peri-urban space plays a critical and increasing role in relation to urban expansion. Yet this role is still poorly understood and … Continue reading →

Thursday, 15 May 2014 · Leave a comment

Contesting speculative urbanisation and strategising discontents

Hyun Bang Shin – I have argued in this essay that China’s speculative urbanisation is both an ideological and a political project that disrupts and destroys the lives of the … Continue reading →

Tuesday, 6 May 2014 · Leave a comment

Mobility in Cities is About Space – Proven Powerfully in Pictures

Regardless of the energy source for cars in your community, the biggest mobility challenge in cities is about the massive amount of space that cars demand. Space to drive in, … Continue reading →

Thursday, 1 May 2014 · 1 Comment

Urban China: Toward Efficient, Inclusive, and Sustainable Urbanization

The joint report by the World Bank and the Development Research Center of China’s State Council, Urban China: Toward Efficient, Inclusive and Sustainable Urbanization, includes six priority areas for a … Continue reading →

Wednesday, 30 April 2014 · Leave a comment

Planning cities as if women matter

Kalpana Viswanath – There is an urgent need to imagine cities in radically different ways if they are to live up to the promise of freedom and opportunity for everyone. … Continue reading →

Wednesday, 16 April 2014 · Leave a comment

Urban Informal Workers are Integral to City Economies

Research unveiled today at World Urban Forum challenges myths about the informal economy, and shows that urban informal workers play vital roles in the urban economy and help keep their … Continue reading →

Saturday, 12 April 2014 · Leave a comment

Exploring the Potential and Limits of the Resilience Agenda in Rapidly Urbanising Contexts

IDS – As part of the Tomorrow-Today Horizon Scanning Initiative supported by IDS, the project ‘Exploring the Potential and Limits of the Resilience Agenda in Rapidly Urbanising Contexts’ aims to analyse … Continue reading →

Wednesday, 2 April 2014 · Leave a comment