Over the last three decades; our understanding of the city worldwide has been revolutionized by three innovative theoretical concepts – globalisation; postcolonialism and a radically contested notion of modernity. The idea and even the reality of the city has been extended out of the state and nation and re-positioned in the larger global world.In this book Anthony King brings together key essays written over this period; much of it dominated by debates about the world or global city. Challenging assumptions and silences behind these debates; King provides largely ignored historical and cultural dimensions to the understanding of world city formation as well as decline. Interdisciplinary and comparative; the essays address new ways of framing contemporary themes: the imperial and colonial origin of contemporary world and global cities; actually existing postcolonialisms; claims about urban and cultural homogenisation and the role of architecture and built environment in that process. Also addressed are arguments about indigenous and exogenous perspectives; Eurocentricism; ways of framing vernacular architecture; and the global historical sociology of building types. Wide-ranging and accessible; Writing the Global City provides essential historical contexts and theoretical frameworks for understanding contemporary urban and architectural debates. Extensive bibliographies will make it essential for teaching; reference and research.
2014-06-28 2014-06-28File Name: B01E54A2AO
Review
