ABSTRACT
Today, for the first time in the history of Humankind urban dwellers outnumber rural residents. Urban places, towns and cities, are of fundamental importance – for the distribution of population within countries; in the organization of economic production, distribution and exchange; in the structuring of social reproduction and cultural life; and in the allocation and exercise of power. Furthermore, in the course of the present century the number of urban dwellers and level of global urbanisation are destined to increase. Even those living beyond the administrative or functional boundaries of a town or city will have their lifestyle influenced to some degree by a nearby, or even distant, city.
The analysis of towns and cities is a central element of all social sciences including geography, which offers a particular perspective on and insight into the urban condition. The principal goal of this third edition of the book remains that of providing instructors and students of the contemporary city with a comprehensive introduction to the expanding field of urban studies. The structure of the first two editions is maintained, with minor amendments. Each of the thirty chapters has been revised to incorporate recent developments in the field. All of the popular study aids are retained; the glossary has been expanded; and chapter references and notes updated to reflect the latest research. This third edition also provides new and expanded discussions of key themes and debates including detailed consideration of metacities, boomburgs, public space, urban sprawl, balanced communities, urban economic restructuring, poverty and financial exclusion, the right to the city, urban policy, reverse migration , and traffic and transport problems.
The book is divided into six main parts. Part one outlines the field of urban geography and explains the importance of a global perspective. Part two explores the growth of cities from the earliest times to the present day and examines the urban geography of the major world regions. Part three considers the dynamics of urban structure and land use change in Western cities. Part four focuses on economy, society and politics in the Western city. In part five attention turns to the urban geography of the Third World, where many of the countries experiencing highest rates or urban growth are least well equipped to respond to the economic, social, political and environmental challenge. Finally part six affords a prospective on the future of cities and cities of the future. New to this edition are: further readings based on the latest research; updated data and statistics; an expanded glossary; new key concepts; additional study questions; and a listing of useful websites.
The book provides a comprehensive interpretation of the urban geography of the contemporary world. Written in a clear and readable style, lavishly illustrated with more than eighty photographs, 180 figures, 100 tables and over 200 boxed studies and with a plethora of study aids Urban Geography: A Global Perspective represents the ultimate resource for students of urban geography.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
part One|34 pages
The Study of Urban Geography
chapter 2|17 pages
Concepts and Theory in Urban Geography
part Two|100 pages
An Urbanising World
chapter 3|31 pages
The Origins and Growth of Cities
chapter 4|26 pages
The Global Context of Urbanisation and Urban Change
chapter 5|27 pages
Regional Perspectives on Urbanisation and Urban Change
chapter 6|14 pages
National Urban Sys tems
part Three|146 pages
Urban Structure and Land Use in the Western City
chapter 7|27 pages
Land Use in the’ City
chapter 8|25 pages
Urban Planning and Policy
chapter 9|13 pages
New Towns
chapter 10|16 pages
Residential Mobility and Neighbourhood Change
chapter 11|22 pages
Housing Problems and Housing Policy
chapter 12|23 pages
Urban Retailing
chapter 13|18 pages
Urban Transportation
part Four|166 pages
Living in the City: Economy, Society and Politics in the Western City
chapter 14|25 pages
The Economy of Cities
chapter 15|22 pages
Poverty and Deprivation in the Western City
chapter 16|22 pages
National and Local Responses to Urban Economic Change
chapter 17|16 pages
Collective Consumptin and Social Justicein the City
chapter 18|28 pages
Residentiat Differentiation and Communities in the City
chapter 19|22 pages
Urban Liveability
chapter 20|29 pages
Power, Politics and Urban Governance
part Five|156 pages
Urban Geography in the Third World
chapter 21|17 pages
Third World Urbanisation within a Global Urban System
chapter 22|18 pages
Internal Structure of Third World Cities
chapter 23|15 pages
Rural—Urban Migration in the Third World
chapter 24|16 pages
Urban Econmy and Employment in the Third World
chapter |29 pages
Third World Housing the Third World Urban Poor
chapter 26|15 pages
Environmental Problems in Third World Cities
chapter 27|16 pages
Health in the Third World City
chapter 28|13 pages
Traffic and Transport in the Third World City
chapter 29|15 pages
Poverty, Power and Politics in the Third World City
part Six|24 pages
Prospective: The Future of the City — Cities of the Future