CITIES GLOBAL WORLD:REPORT 2001 hb [Hardcover]

United Nations Centre for Human Settleme (Author), Willem Van Vliet (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 2001 | ISBN-10: 1853838055 | ISBN-13: 978-1853838057

'The world has entered the urban millennium. Nearly half the world's people are now city dwellers, and the rapid increase in urban population is expected to continue, mainly in developing countries. This historic transition is being further propelled by the powerful forces of globalization. The central challenge for the international community is clear: to make both urbanization and globalization work for all people, instead of leaving billions behind or on the margins..."Cities in a Globalizing World: Global Report on Human Settlements 2001" is a comprehensive review of conditions in the world's cities and the prospects for making them better, safer places to live in an age of globalization. I hope that it will provide all stakeholders - foremost among them the urban poor themselves - with reliable and timely information with which to set our policies right and get the machinery of urban life moving in a constructive direction' - From the Foreword by Kofi Annan, Secretary-General, United Nations. "Cities in a Globalizing World" presents a comprehensive review of the world's cities and analyses the positive and negative impacts on human settlements of the global trends towards social and economic integration and the rapid changes in information and communication technologies. In this Global Report, the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat) draws on specially commissioned and contributed background papers from more than 80 leading international specialists. The report focuses on recent trends in human settlements and their implications for poverty, inequity and social polarization. It develops advance knowledge for urban planning and management policies in support and promotion of inclusive cities and good urban governance. This major and influential report is the most authoritative and up-to-date assessment of human settlements conditions and trends. Written in clear, non-technical language and supported by informative graphics, case studies and extensive statistical data, it should be an essential tool and reference for academics, researchers, planners, public authorities and civil society organizations around the world.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This book is a follow-up to "An Urbanizing World: Global Report on Human Settlements" (CH, Apr'97). This new report draws from information and analyses provided by 80 experts around the world, examining issues of urban governance, housing finance, shelter delivery systems, urban infrastructure, disaster recovery, community development, etc. It both quantitatively and qualitatively measures the needs and capacities of these cities and examines issues, trends, and challenges of settlement and urbanization in world regions. The report is based on the latest and most detailed data available and succeeds in accurately examining the opportunities and challenges globalization has created for cities around the world. It examines issues at both micro and macro levels from a sustainable development perspective. Theoretical and practical issues are considered with a clear emphasis on governance and the development of social policies dealing with the unbalanced nature, effects, and benefits of globalization on social groups, cities, countries, and regions. An authoritative source for practitioners as well as academicians dealing with issues of urban development. All levels." --- A. Mahdi, Ohio Wesleyan University in CHOICE"This publication is a summary of knowledge about global urbanized areas at the turn of the millennium. Brief chapters survey understanding of all major aspects of urban life (communications, development, employment, health, housing, politics, transportation, etc.) and provide examples from contemporary international cities. Especially interesting and informative are the sections on how information and communication technologies have impacted well-being in human settlementsthroughout the globe since the 1980s. Other notable sections deal with the devolution of public services to nongovernmental agencies and how this has led to greater gender equity for many less developed areas. The extensive appendix contains excellent data on urban population dynamics and development characteristics at the national and urban level. Because of its encyclopedic information, this book would be a good addition to any library and might prove useful to support urban geography or urban sociology courses at either the graduate or undergraduate level." --- B. C. Pearson, State University of West Georgia in CHOICE"A comprehensive review of conditions in the world's cities and the prospects for making them better, safer places to live in an age of globalization. I hope that it will provide all stakeholders - foremost among them the urban poor themselves - with reliable and timely information with which to set our policies right and get the machinery of urban life moving in a constructive direction." -- from the foreword by Kofi Annan, Secretary-General, United Nations." [This book] acknowledges the positive consequences of globalization: facilitated diffusion of knowledge; facilitated spread of norms of democratic governance, environmental justice and human rights; increased city-to-city exchanges of knowledge, experiences, best practices and lessons learned; and increased awareness in both citizens and city managers of the potential of peer-to-peer learning. The report also draws attention to many urgent and unresolved problems." -- from the introduction by Anna Kajumulo Tibaijuka, Executive Director, United Nations Centre for Human Settlements ( Habitat)" (This) is a majorcontribution to the series specifically designed to asses the future livability of cities in a world swept along by the currents of economic globalization... Given today's international political climate, this (book) is a fairly radical document...the policies advocated by "Cities in a Globalizing World" may be the right ones to ensure a just sustainability for the worlds cities." -- Building Research & Information"This book is timely, educative and informative - a comprehensive view of cities with uptodate data. A good reference book." -- Built Environment"although produced externally, one of the most useful UNCHS publications." -- Trialog 73

About the Author

Cities in a Globalizing World was prepared under the general guidance of Daniel Biau, Director of the Global Division of UNCHS (Habitat), and the supervision of Nefise Bazoglu and Jochen Eigen, Urban Secretariat Chiefs.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 350 pages
• Publisher: Earthscan Publications Ltd. (July 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1853838055
• ISBN-13: 978-1853838057
• Product Dimensions: 12 x 8.5 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.1 pounds
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,545,073 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)