ABSTRACT
Decolonization is a theoretical, and often contested, term that has been used to connote the cleansing of Western domination on our knowledge systems, values and beliefs, and ways of looking at the world. I offer insights into how decolonizing the read of urban environments entails a thorough review of the body of knowledge that has been engrained in our minds as colonized subjects. I make a case for researcher authenticity to ensure credibility and genuineness. Authenticity involves the production of reflective content that focuses on interpretations of local urban environments by “people of the place.” The last section focuses on Asian urban environments and local scholars’ read of places from their lived experiences. However, there is a move in Asia to globalized urban districts with mega-projects that are designed with a Western framework. These decisions result in homogenized spaces with no reference to the local cultural backdrops and historical layers to contextualize them. This book makes a stand to center local-ness over the universality approach of Western views.
