ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book focuses on each of the regions, Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin America. Cities in Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia must contend with tension between distinct and, in many instances, opposing forces. Winnie Mitullah does development studies at the University of Nairobi, has worked with government agencies, and has studied urban competitiveness in many places throughout Africa. Isela OrIhuela and Jaime Sobrino are from Mexico City. Isela is a researcher on Metropolitan Statistical Areas in Mexico at the Mora Institute, and Jaime is Professor of Urban Studies at El Colegio de Mexico. Both have worked in several countries in Central and Latin America. Ni Pengfei is a very well-known analyst of urban competitiveness throughout the world, partly as a consequence of his annual review of the competitiveness of 500 cities, the Global Urban Competitiveness Report.
