Urbanization in the East Asian Region

The purpose of this course is to provide an overall account of the urbanization in selected cities within the rapidly developing Pacific Asian region; to characterize relevant political traditions and forms of planning administration affecting urbanization there; and to depict prevalent patterns of urbanization, including illustration at appropriate levels, such as district, block, and building type. The questions being addressed are whether there is a distinctive form to urbanization within the Pacific Asian region, or whether it is largely a matter of satisfying demands for rapid urban expansion within the ambit of internationally available building technology? Are there common problems and opportunities accompanying urbanization within the Pacific Asian region, or is each place sufficiently different so as to defy unitary characterization? The cities in question are Hong Kong, Shanghai, Singapore, and Taipei, Tokyo, and Seoul.