Cities Urban Life

AY2025/2026 Semester 1

This course examines theories of urban development and features of urbanism as a way of life, focusing on processes of urbanisation and metropolitan development in both the developed world and in the developing world. It considers the urban transformation of predominantly rural societies, highlighting the implications of the rural-urban divide and issues related to urban poverty, housing and urban renewal. The course also discusses the rise of global cities and informational cities--and the rise of the creative city--with emphasis on the competition between cities in attracting trade, talent and tourists and the potential collaboration between them in addressing problems engendered by the global economy and international migration.