Providing the first comprehensive survey of new interdisciplinary scholarship on globalized urbanization, this important volume contains fifty selections from classic writings by authors such as John Friedmann, Michael Peter Smith, Saskia Sassen, Peter Taylor, Manuel Castells and Anthony King, as well as major contributions by other international scholars of global city formation. Classic and contemporary case studies of globalizing cities serve to illuminate global city theory within Europe, North America and East Asia, whilst contributing authors explore key topics including: the histories and geographies of globalized urbanization the social and economic order of globalizing cities pathways of globalized urbanization in the older industrialized world, the developing world and on the ‘margins’ of the world economy state restructuring, urban governance and socio-political contestation in globalizing cities culture, identity and representation in globalizing cities emerging issues and debates in contemporary research on globalized urbanization. Containing wide-ranging discussions on major theories, methods, themes and debates, and a combination of theoretical and methodological contributions, comparative analyses and detailed case studies, this key textbook will appeal to a broad interdisciplinary readership at undergraduate and graduate levels in urban, globalization, development, cultural, and environmental studies.

This book combines a historical narrative of urbanisation in Los Angeles with an examination of its changing social geography. It provides a solid base from which to understand and explore the city further and a defined emphasis on recent developments. It focuses on the role of local actors in the globalisation of Los Angeles and traces the ways in which local states, boosters, labour unions, social movements, neighbourhood and community organisations and other agents participate in negotiated world city formation.

Product Description: The ugly grey heap of cement and asphalt that makes up much of the urban sprawl is something most of us wish would just go away. And yet, more than half the world's population will live in urban centres by the turn of the millennium and most will be exposed to degraded urban environments...read more