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Zusatztext 'This volume by first rate scholars about one of the great transformations of our time is a worthy addition. It is essential reading for students of comparative urban politics, international political economy and urban development. The volume's good organization and the accessibility of most of the chapters make this a suitable book for classroom use' - Cities: The International Journal of Urban Policy and Planning 'In the year in which the urban population of the planet exceeds the rural for the first time this book gives us many insights into the new challenges that city leaders and policy makers now face. By examining the experiences of very different metropolitan areas in different parts of the world Hambleton and Gross lead us in an exploration of the most relevant issues concerning urban governance in a time of rapid globalization. The case study illustrations and theoretical reflections demonstrate how important it now is to engage in cross-national learning, not just to understand urban phenomena but also to create the capacity to govern effectively in modern time.' - Professor Sandro Balducci, Head of the Department of Architecture and Planning, Milan Polytechnic, Italy 'This book provides invaluable insights on the changing dynamics of city development in different continents. The various chapters provide many helpful suggestions for city leaders on how to respond to the major urban challenges we now face. The Chinese experience is valuable for examining and sharing.' - Dr. Baoxing Qiu, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Construction, China 'The world is now urban and the largest cities have formed a global connective tissue that is stronger than nation states. As big cities enter a global era they struggle with their parochial mission of meeting the needs of their local communities. But what is local in a global era? Is it a region, a mega-region or a system of cities? These are the issues of governance that Hambleton and Gross tackle with insight, breadth and depth. This book provides an important contribution that will be of interest to all concerned about the future of cities' - Edward J. Blakely, Professor of Urban Planning and Policy, University of Sydney, Australia and Executive Director Recovery, City of New Orleans, USA 'This is a "must buy" book for those who care about cities and the future of cities. By bringing together contributions from leading urban scholars in different continents the editors illuminate the challenges now facing city leaders in a refreshing and inventive way. The forces of globalization gather pace but, as the authors of this volume show with great insight, this does not mean that everywhere has to become the same. Luckily cities are different. I recommend this book to readers from north and south, east and west.' - Suketu Mehta, Author of Maximum City. Bombay Lost and Found (Vintage Books, New York, 2004) 'This ambitious book on cities aims to achieve truly international coverage of the challenges posed by globalization, demographic change, social diversity, economic competition, growing inequality and contemporary governance reforms. Using case studies of individual cities and comparisons between cities, the authors identify trends, innovations and contradictions. With significant contributions from Hambleton and Gross, they critically reappraise prevalent theories, reflect on policy and practice, and suggest how the challenges might be tackled more effectively and equitably. Academics, policy makers and opinion formers from around the world will find much to interest, disturb and inspire them in this book.' - Carole Rakodi, Professor, Department of International Development, School of Public Policy, University of Birmingham, UK 'Cities have become the strategic spaces where global forces shape current events, often in unexpected ways. New intercity geographies span 'the globe, making trans-local processes and relati...
