With over half of the global population living in cities, we have become an increasingly urbanised species. As "restless urban landscapes" (Knox, 1991), cities have always been humankind's laboratories, at the forefront of change. However, in an age of pronounced spatial inequalities, how can we make cities more sustainable and inclusive for future generations? This module will explore the social, economic and environmental tensions that act as drivers of urban change, always asking "who benefits?" We will investigate how global and local processes and policies shape our cities and how, in turn, we are shaped by them. To gain a more holistic understanding of the ways in which different social groups manage and experience urban change, the first part of the module will draw on key urban theorists, raising questions about city revival, growth and competitiveness, suburbanization, social exclusion and displacement and community as a potential source of betterment.
Following this, evidence from paradigmatic cities and case studies will add empirical weight to our understanding of how different histories, geographies and economies are socially constructed to make diverse contemporary cities. As well as equipping students with a practical toolkit of concepts, skills and strategies for analysing some of society's most pressing policy issues, this module is designed to support the skills required for delivering a successful Honours dissertation and develop a sharp awareness of different parts of the world, appreciating how and why cities can evolve to become places of hope - or of despair.
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