can i complain?
these are the questions for my geography final - i have to write a 3 page paper

1. Based on our readings in this course, does it appear that global metropolises are converging or diverging in terms of basic socio-spatial organization? You might consider such issues as global-city status, economic development, environmental sustainability, defensive architecture and design, segregation, and social equity. Referring to examples of specific cities studied in this course, analyze the primary reasons for either global urban convergence or divergence.

2. Contrast the approaches to comparative urban analysis taken by Lawrence Herzog in Return to the Center and Mike Davis in Planet of Slums. How would each author diagnose the most important problems of a particular city, such as Mexico City or Lagos? How would their respective approaches illustrate the strengths and limitations of intensive case study (inductive analysis) as opposed to a global political-economy perspective (deductive analysis)? Which approach, if either, do you prefer? Why?

3. Several works read in this course argue that urban design and morphology have important roles to play in creating attractive and livable cities. Others suggest that the quality of urban life stems primarily from political-economic causes. With regard to cities studied in class, evaluate the importance of spatial form and design, as opposed to political and economic forces, in shaping urban places. In your opinion, can these approaches be reconciled in understanding the evolution of metropolises?

4. Although environmentalists often regard large cities in negative terms -- stressing the ecological problems of congestion, pollution, and waste disposal -- a counter-argument can be made that urban population concentration actually can have beneficial environmental impacts and help to maintain open space in the countryside. Under what conditions would this counter-argument apply? Evaluate the prospects for environmentally sustainable urbanization, referring to examples from specific cities discussed in the works by Gandy, Davis, and Abu-Lughod.

5. Compare the role of the “slum” in the evolution of North American cities and in the rapid urbanization of contemporary Africa, Latin America, and Asia. Despite the pervasive negative connotations of slums, their existence seems inevitable in modern capitalist society and they perform important functions for newcomers and working-classes in cities. So why are they viewed so negatively? Comment on the nature of of urban slums—considering such issues as migration, housing, segregation by class and race, and government policy—based on your readings in texts by Abu-Lughod, Gandy, and Davis.





SOOOOOOOO HARD!