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High Levels of Urbanization

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Brunel University London

   

Globalization (SCIL10067)

   

Added on  2020-03-02

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In this document, we will discuss the spread of the globalization effect and capitalist societies in the modern world that has led to the growth of the urban population. In these urban areas, cities serve as vital economic and administrative centers. Currently, there is a rapid increase in the number of cities across the globe. Also, we cover the challenges of high levels of urbanization.

High Levels of Urbanization

   

Brunel University London

   

Globalization (SCIL10067)

   Added on 2020-03-02

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1HIGH LEVELS OF URBANIZATIONStudent NameInstitution NameDate
High Levels of Urbanization_1
2HIGH LEVELS OF URBANIZATIONThe spread of the globalization effect and capitalist societies in the modern world have led to the growth of urban population. In this urban areas, cities serve as the vital economic and administrative centers. Currently, there is a rapid increase in the number of cities across the globe. This increase is driven by the belief that cities are the land of opportunities. In fact, cities are the only places where their varied sources of employment, advanced infrastructure, diverse human population, and intense utilization of technology. However, this high rate of urbanization has its advantages and disadvantages. Despite cities being central in the economic and social development in the society, they have resulted in severe environmental and sociological problems. Understanding a City The understanding of a city differs with societies. People define a city as an extensive and permanent settlement characterized with dense human population and diverse economic activities (Pacione, 2002, p. 1). However, as Pacione (2002) points out, a city is a complex entity which cannot be sufficiently defined using social or economic perspectives. According to Pacione (2002), it is easier to pose the question about what a city is than providing the answer. Tangibly, a city is a physical entity entailing a built environment within a spatially delaminated territory. Additionally, a city is also a functional, social, administrative, and legal unit. Consequently, “the sphere of influence of city can extend beyond its physical, administrative or legal boundaries” (Pacione, 2002, p. 1). In this respect, a city is a dynamic environment where social, legal, and economic factors interact. Challenges of High levels of UrbanizationIn the last six decades, urban expansion has been occurring at a very high rate. According to Jebweb, Christiaensen, and Gindelsky (2017), the urban population in
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3developing contries improved from 300 million to three billion between 1950 and 2015. A survey conducted by the United Nations established that more people live in the urban than inrural areas. According to the United Nations (2014), 54% of the world’ population lived in urban areas in 2014. Furthermore, the United Nations (2014) projects that this number is likely to increase to 66% by 2050. In commercial terms, this high level of urbanization is an indication of expanding economic and technological activities.Nevertheless, this high rate of urbanization has led to the emergence of severe environmental, demographic, and political challenges. These problems have emanated from the rapid increase in the urban population. Currently, there are severe shortages of resources and management to meet the growing demands of the urban population. Specifically, housinghas been a key challenge in the urban areas. The housing problem has been caused by rural tourban migration levels which are higher than the rate of accommodation establishment in cities. According to Haque (2012), the lack of adequate and affordable housing in urban areasis the leading cause of the rise of slums and squatter settlements. As Haque (2012) outlines, the housing challenge in urban areas can be analyzed from the perspective of availability and affordability. In some cities, particularly those in the developing nations like Bangladesh, housing challenges are caused by insufficient supply. However, in other localities like Hong Kong, housing problems are instigated by high pricing making the houses unfordable (Haque,2012). Environmental sustainability is another challenge caused by the rapid urbanization in the current world. The rate of pollution has considerably increased in urban localities due to increased industrialization activities, poor waste management, and utilization of fossil fuels. According to Abasnia et al. (2016), the emission of green house gases like carbon dioxide by industries and vhehicles in urban areas have accelerated the rate of climate change. Apart from air pollution, poor waste management strategies have constrained the availability of
High Levels of Urbanization_3

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