ABSTRACT
A dramatic transformation is taking place in the form and distribution of human settlements. In those regions of the world where the total population is growing most rapidly, cities are growing much more rapidly. Governments are naturally apprehensive about the growth of a huge new urban class of poor people. "Vulnerability" and "resilience" are useful concepts to apply to human use systems including systems of settlements, but it should not be supposed that greater precision or scientific credibility will thereby automatically be conferred on the user. All parts of an urban system may be vulnerable so the manner of identify ing types of vulnerability depends on the way we choose to disaggregate "the urban sys tem." The "strategy' of dealing with the growing wlnerability of urban systems, is based heavily on response by government organized by sectors. The growth of large cities and their present vulnerability can be viewed from two theoretical perspectives, both evolutionary.
