G L O B A L P O P U L AT I O N , D E M O G R A P H Y & C I T I E S

IT’S A SMALL WORLD

NOTES FOR CONTEMPORARY WORLD // E.R.GIANAN // 09.2018
S U S TA I N A B L E P O P U L AT I O N ?

“uneven urbanization, growing decentralization, expanding

informal settlements, record high inequality, forced
migration, and rising urban insecurity” as key trends that
describe urban development in the past decades
- Gabriela Rico, UN-HABITAT World Cities Report
 U R B A N I Z AT I O N

P O P U L AT I O N G R O W T H

M I G R AT I O N
CONGESTED CITIES &
POOR HOUSING
CAPSULE HOTELS
“COFFIN HOMES” IN HK
“COFFIN HOMES” IN HK
U S T R A I L E R PA R K S
U S T R A I L E R PA R K S
POOR SOCIO-ECONOMIC
W E L FA R E F O R U R B A N I T E S
S M O K E Y M O U N TA I N M N L
“HAPPY LAND" TONDO
FAV E L A S I N B R A Z I L
FAV E L A S I N B R A Z I L
S TA R K I N E Q U A L I T I E S A R E
FURTHER EMPHASISED
C H I N A’ S I N D U S T R I A L C I T I E S
MUMBAI, INDIA
U N D E R S TA N D I N G I N E Q U A L I T Y

WALLERSTEIN’S WORLD SYSTEMS THEORY

COLONIAL INSTITUTION-BUILDING

EXTRACTIVE INCLUSIVE
 COLONIAL INSTITUTION-BUILDING

EXTRACTIVE INCLUSIVE

rent-seeking developmental

the pe rs isten ce of ex tra ctive ec on om ic & po litica l

institu tio ns co ntrib ute la rg ely to high / ris in g in eq ualities

E X A M P L E S I N C L U D E S H E LT E R , A C C E S S T O B A S I C
E D U C AT I O N & H E A LT H C A R E , E M P L O Y M E N T,
T R A N S P O R TAT I O N , E V E N I N T E R N E T & I N F O
 T H E S E I N E Q U A L I T I E S : S H E LT E R , A C C E S S T O B A S I C
E D U C AT I O N & H E A LT H C A R E , E M P L O Y M E N T,
T R A N S P O R TAT I O N , E V E N I N T E R N E T & I N F O L E A D T O :

INFORMALITIES
squatting, extremely high rents, poor housing
diploma mills, black market medicines
informal employments, street vendors, TNTs
makeshift transpo (e.g. trolleys, boats during flooding)
internet trolls, hackers
PERSISTENT EXTRACTIVE ECONOMIC &
POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS

LOOPHOLES & CRACKS IN THE FORMAL /

REGULAR SYSTEM

E X P L O I TAT I O N O F L O O P H O L E S T O
SURVIVE HARSH, GLOBALISED WORLD

RISING INEQUALITIES, INFORMALITIES,

VICIOUS CYCLE OF POVERTY
C I T I E S A S N A R R AT I V E S
“WE SHAPE CITIES, AND THEY SHAPE US.”
- Jan Gehls
T H I N G S T O T H I N K A B O U T / FA C T O R I N :
• Good urban design should always be in favour of the
pedestrian / the people. This means walkability,
accessibility, and healthy environments.

• “Eudaimonia” means the potentials and talents of every

person is optimally harnessed and realized.

• It is difficult to balance the social aspects (participation,

inclusion, & interaction) with physical aspects (connectivity,
safety, & order).

• Cities should have narratives / lived experiences. How do

we best support / address informal economies?
THANK YOU!