Cities and Development

In the five years since the first edition of Cities and Development was published, awareness of the challenges associated with urban growth in the developing world has grown significantly. More than a billion of the world’s people live in slums, a shocking statistic that is set to more than double within the next 20 years unless serious interventions are made. This has consequently become a key focus for international aid appeals and research.

This revised edition of Cities and Development provides an updated critical review of the dynamic relationship between urbanism and development. Building on the success of the first edition, the authors have brought the chapters and the selection of literature up to date. Highlighting both the challenges and opportunities associated with rapid urban change, the book surveys:

• the historical relationship between urbanization and development
• the role cities play in fostering economic growth in a globalizing world
• the unique characteristics of urban poverty and the poor record of interventions designed to tackle it
• the complexities of managing urban environments; issues of urban crime, violence, war and terrorism in contemporary cities
• the importance of urban planning, governance and politics in shaping city futures.