S1207 Cities, Global Change and Sustainable Development (S1207)

The course examines the process of mass urbanization and the environmental, economic and social changes taking place in cities around the world as a result of globalization and it discusses major challenges in achieving a more sustainable urban development. Drawing on theories of globalization, development, and sustainability, we will consider how the global context shapes changes and policy issues in cities, making more complex our understanding of social life in urban places. The knowledge and understanding of the city as an integrated system will be our major goal.
We will conduct an interdisciplinary exploration of the characteristics of cities in the era of globalization and we will investigate major environmental issues, the complex relation between natural and artificial systems, with particular attention to linkages between local and global processes.
Cities are growing rapidly, both in terms of population and their over-consumptive use of land: over half of the world's population now lives in cities and, as a result, urban social and economic systems have expanded and now they constitute the engine of change and growth, economically and socially. City-regions are replacing nation-economies in most countries, both developed and underdeveloped. Furthermore, cities are also the primary consumers of natural resources and energy, and the major creators of waste.
This course is designed to provide students with an opportunity to critically examine the relationship between cities, the environment, economies and public goods provision, and it offers the tools to envisage how further globalization will affect those relations. Venice and its Lagoon will be proposed as a case study; it has been a true global city in the past and it is still now, yet from a very different perspective, as one of the world-class city and a people' patrimony.

 

Learning objectives:

 

To develop an understanding of the processes of urbanization, global change and growth at a local and global scale;
To foster the ability to assess current environmental, economic and social urban issues and problems in the context of further globalization and city sustainable development .
To gain experience in understanding global cities sustainability issues and demands and to develop capacity to envision sustainable solutions and answers.
To demonstrate the acquired capacities and understanding in studying the case of Venice and its Lagoon.

 

Successful students will achieve an analytical understanding of the origin of global changes in urban contexts; appreciate the role of globalization (i.e., the intensification of human interaction across boundaries) in the face of global change; as well as, the drivers and consequences of globalization upon national societies, regional cultures, and individuals.

 

Course organisation and topics:

 

The course is divided in 3 modules organized in lectures.
Lectures are mainly aimed at providing a theoretical introduction and consistent knowledge blocks, and they will be conducted by researches, guests and field experts. Field trips and vision of videos and movies are to be considered essential part of the programme.

 

Module I: Cities and global change

 

Key ideas about urbanism in global perspective—their history and urban forms;
Cities through history: city building and planning approaches and styles;
Key ideas and concepts on the demographic, economic and social aspects of urban change;
The changing nature of urban economies and societies and their relationships with changes at the local and global levels;
Current economic and social issues and policies: local vs global cities;
Links between globalization, local and global dynamics in cities and the growing competition;
Examples from global cities: London, New York, Tokyo, Beijing , Shanghai, ...

 

Module II: Global cities and sustainability

Sustainability, urbanization and cities;
Key ideas and concepts illustrating how the city is part of the environment, and how it is subject to environmental constraints and opportunities;
The changing nature of urban-nature relations under the process of globalization;
Current issues in realigning urban-nature relations;
Links between local and global environmental challenges in cities and the role of local policies for sustainability
Rural-urban linkages: development and environmental issues
Urban Sprawl, land use change and policy
Chinese cities, globalization and environment

 

Module III: Living in cities in time of global change: the case of Venice and its Lagoon

 

The city and its environment in historical perspective;
Current economic and social issues and policies;
The safeguard of Venice Lagoon;
Developing visions for a sustainable Venice;