Author Description

The last decade of the twentieth century marks a symbolic transition in the history of human settlement. Over half the world's 5.2 billion people now live in towns and cities. The world is now an urban place. This book identities and accounts for the characteristics of the contemporary city and of urban society. The latest theoretical and empirical developments are synthesised and presented in an accessible and engaging way. Emphasis throughout is placed upon the world scale, urban developments being seen as the geographical consequences of capitalism. Individual chapters focus on populations and places, growth and urbanisation, urban development as a global phenomenon, lifestyles in the city, global urban society, world cities and the urban future. This comprehensive overview and analysis will be essential reading for students of Geography, Sociology and Planning and all who seek an understanding of how the urban world has evolved and how it will change in the twenty-first century.