Comparative International Planning and Cities

This course examines the planning and growth of cities in \’developing\’ nations across the \’global South\’ since the end of colonialism in the 1960s. We begin by reviewing the development theories and policies proposed and often imposed by multinational institutions like the World Bank in the postcolonial era. These common policies shaped the diverse contexts of postcolonial cities. Using a case study approach, the course then examines the planning and development histories of cities in Latin America, the Caribbean, Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia, giving students a detailed understanding of the specific impact of forces such as rural-urban migration (i.e. Sao Paulo), socialist revolution (i.e. Havana), postcolonial conflict (i.e. Algiers), and explosive growth (i.e. Bangkok) in individual contexts. The course concludes by comparing and contrasting the case studies to draw lessons for the planning futures of cities both within and between different regions in the new era of globalization.