Sustainability and health challenges in developing cities like Kano, Nigeria are discussed in Ses #9. (Photo courtesy of eekim on Flickr.)
Instructor(s)
Dr. Daniel Esser
MIT Course Number
11.947
As Taught In
Spring 2009
Level
Graduate
Course Description
Course Features
Course Description
The course examines the causes and effects of rapid urbanization in developing countries. Using case studies from the world's four major developing regions, including (among others) Mexico City, Buenos Aires, Managua, Singapore, Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Kabul, Beirut, Cairo, Kinshasa, Cape Town and Johannesburg, it explores the economic and political dynamics that grease the wheels of contemporary patterns of growth. In addition to examining both local and transnational forces that drive contemporary urbanization, the course focuses on key issues that emerge in rapidly growing cities of the developing world, ranging from growing income inequality and socio-economic exclusion, environmental challenges, and rising violence. Class sessions are discussion-based and focus on a critical analysis of the arguments presented in the readings.