Cities in a Globalizing World: Global Report on Human Settlements: 2001

Description

'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.

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.

"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