Principles of Human Geography - Urbanism: Global Cities

These flashcards cover key concepts related to urbanism and global cities as discussed in the lecture notes, providing definitions and insights into the dynamics of urban environments.

Urbanism

The process by which an increasing proportion of a population lives in urban areas, influenced by migration, socio-economic transformation, and changes in land use and lifestyle.

Urbanisation

The process by which an increasing proportion of a population lives in urban areas, driven by migration and socio-economic changes.

Urban form

The physical layout and three-dimensional structure of urban areas, including buildings, streets, and spatial patterns.

Urban Systems

Networks of interconnected cities and towns characterised by flows of people, goods, and information, forming hierarchical and spatially organised structures.

Social Differentiation

The spatial and social variation within and between urban areas, leading to distinct neighbourhoods, land uses, and socio-economic patterns.

Urban Problems

Challenges arising from urbanisation, such as inequality, health issues, and environmental degradation.

Global Cities

Cities that serve as key nodes in the global economy, concentrating command and control functions of multinational corporations.

Command and Control Functions

Corporate headquarters and decision-making centres that involve strategic planning, financial control, and research coordination.

Urban Hierarchy

A system organising cities into tiers based on their size, influence, and connectivity within the global urban system.

Comparative Urbanism

An approach in urban studies advocating for the comparison of urban experiences across different contexts, challenging Eurocentric perspectives.

Emerging Patterns in Global Cities

The rise of cities in Asia challenging Western dominance and reflecting multiple hierarchies across different sectors.

Globalisation Processes

The effects of cities enabling and shaping global flows of information, capital, people, and services.

Urban inequalities

The disparities in wealth and access to resources that exist within and among urban areas, influenced by geography and governance.

Who is Saskia Sassen and what is her key contribution to urban studies?

A key urban theorist known for coining and developing the concept of Global Cities, highlighting their role as command and control centers for the global economy and sites of new forms of urban inequalities and social structures.

What is David Harvey's primary focus in urban geography?

A prominent geographer and social theorist who applies Marxist theory to understand urban inequalities, economic restructuring, and the production of space under capitalism within urban areas.

Which urban model is associated with Ernest Burgess and what does it describe?

Ernest Burgess developed the Concentric Zone Model, which describes urban form as growing outward in a series of rings, each characterized by different land uses and socio-economic groups, illustrating social differentiation within cities.