Urban Megaprojects

Megaprojects are springing up throughout both the developed and developing world. Their popularity reflects the drive by political and economic elites to enhance urban competitiveness. Although the idea to construct very large urban complexes can be attributed to globalization, the particular political forces behind them, their urban contexts, and physical outcomes vary from place to place. In this fascinating compendium of case studies a range of authors from different disciplines delineate the forces shaping and resisting large-scale urban development in a variety of settings and place their empirical findings within the framework of urban theory. This book is essential reading for students of urban politics, planning, sociology, and geography. Susan Fainstein, Senior Research Fellow, Harvard Graduate School of Design, and author, The Just City The political embrace of city competition has combined with the globalization of banking, real estate, and architecture to make mega-projects seemingly inevitable. What better time, with the world economy slowed, to delve into the motivations for and consequences of the now-ubiquitous and globally-entrenched megaproject. Read this book to discover how the complexities and promises of this form of urban development have intrigued urban scholars and civic boosters alike. Robert Beauregard, Professor of Urban Planning and Chair of the Urban Planning Doctoral Committee, Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation, Columbia University Urban Megaprojects: A Worldwide View is an excellent exposition of the so-called "megaprojects paradox": Megaprojects are increasingly used to build and transform cities, but megaprojects have a dismal track record of delivering on the promised benefits. The book's combination of global and local perspectives on megaprojects is highly effective for understanding the issues at hand. Bent Flyvbjerg, Professor of Major Programme Management at Oxford University, principal author of Megaprojects and Risk: An Anatomy of Ambition