Critical Issues in Urban Inequality

MGDI60531 Critical Issues in Urban Inequality 15 Semester 1 Postgraduate Taught Level 6 Maria Rusca Unit coordinator 1 FHEQ level (Framework for Higher Education Qualifications) ' Masters/Integrated Masters P4 ' European Credit Transfer & Accumulation System Rating : 7.5 PART 1: Introduction 1) Introduction: Global overview of economic dimensions and associated concepts, frameworks and approaches 2) Introduction: Global overview of social dimensions and associated concepts, frameworks and approaches PART 2: Causes, consequences, and manifestations of inequality 3) Settlement: land, services and housing 4) Migration 5) Climate Change 6) Health 7) Water PART 3: Responses to inequality 8) Individual and household responses: patron-client relationships and the limitations of household agency 9) Institutionalised responses: social movements and an engagement with the political agencies and systems. The course is divided into three core areas. The first set of lectures look at the conceptual and analytical frameworks needed to understand inequality in urban areas, namely social and political inequalities, economic inequalities and spatial inequalities. The second set of lectures explores some of the causes and/or consequences of inequalities. The final set of lectures considers responses to urban inequalities, particularly from the perspective of those groups who are facing urban inequalities themselves.  OverviewPart 1 – IntroductionThe first set of lectures looks at the conceptual and analytical frameworks needed to understand inequality in urban areas, namely social and political inequalities, economic inequalities and spatial inequalities.1.    Introduction to socio-political urban inequalities 2.    Introduction to spatial inequalities in urban environments 3.    Economic Inequality in Cities of the Global South: The Urban Poor and the Informal EconomyPart 2 - Causes, consequences, and manifestations of inequalityThe second set of lectures explores some of the causes and/or consequences of inequalities.  Some lectures focus on particular aspects of urban development to see how these influence urban inequalities, including speculative real estate development, large infrastructure projects, and the planning of key city infrastructures like water systems. We also look at how phenomenon like climate change reinforce, generate and maintain existing (or new) inequalities in urban areas.4.    Water  5.    Infrastructure led development  6.    Climate change  7.    Real estatePart 3 – Responses to inequalityThe final set of lectures will look at how civil society responds to inequalities drawing on both NGO and social movement analyses. The focus is on how citizens themselves use their agency to address structural disadvantage and create paths of advancement and social mobility.8.    Responses in African cities 9.    Responses in Manchester 10.    Legal empowerment   The overall aim of this course unit is to examine the key concepts, frameworks, issues and debates in relation to inequalities in Southern towns and cities. We also look globally, to see what we can learn from comparisons across the Global North and South. More specifically, this course aims to offer:<ul> <li>An introduction to the concept of inequality and the social, political, economic and spatial dimensions through which inequality is realised and experienced in Southern cities.</li> <li>An analysis of these dimensions of inequality within key recent urban concepts, agendas and policies, including ‘the right to the city’, the new urban agenda and SDG Goal 11.</li> <li>An analysis of the causes of inequality in its different dimensions, looking in particular at social, political, economic and spatial inequalities.</li> <li>An analysis of how processes of inequality may be changing as a result of urban development investments or processes or as a result of external influences like climate change.</li> <li>An analysis of how these concepts and experiences of urban inequality may differ across the Global North and South, and whether North-South comparisons can provide a useful lens for our understanding of urban inequalities.</li> <li>An analysis of how inequality might be addressed, through a consideration and analysis of responses to inequality.</li></ul>    Evaluate trends in urban inequality and how these fit within recent urban concepts, agendas and policies.Analyse the concept of inequality, along social, political, economic and spatial dimensions.Debate the strengths and limitations of these theories for understanding urban inequality and of the data that we have available for this purpose. Apply theories of inequality to different urban sectors, settings and contexts to explore and analyse how different types of inequalities may differ across these.Debate the relative merits and pitfalls of analysing urban inequalities across cities of the North and South.Analyse the strengths and weaknesses of key strategies and mechanisms to address inequality in urban settings.  Have confidence working in small teams of classmates.Have confidence in presenting to the class.Build skills of collaboration in designing and conducting small research projects to research urban inequalities. <ul> <li> Self awareness and an ability to take responsibility for your own learning</li> <li> Time management</li> <li> Confidence in justifying your arguments in front of others</li> </ul> Lectures and Tutorials 0 Other 100% <ul><li>One group-based essay (no more than 1,500 words) — 60%</li><li>Written assignment (no more than 2,500 words) — 40%</li></ul> Detailed summative written feedback on the two assessments will be provided via VLE. In addition, there is an opportunity for in-class interactions and formative feedback on an essay outline (no more than one page in bullet points) for Assignment 2.   MSc Urban Studies MSc Urban Studies PGDT Taught Component Optional Y Environment and Urbanization special issue on City Inequality (8:2, 1996) Mitlin, D. and D. Satterthwaite, 2012, 'Critical issues in urban inequality', in, D. Mitlin and D. Satterthwaite, Urban Poverty in the Global South: Scale and Nature (p214-278). Shatkin, G 2007 Global Cities of the South: Emerging perspectives on growth and inequality, Cities 24(1) Stewart, F. (2001) Horizontal Inequalities: a neglected dimension of development. WIDER 2001 Annual Development Lecture http://www.crise.ox.ac.uk/pubs/workingpaper1.pdf Urban Age (2009) Cities and Social Equity, Detailed report, available from the Urban Age website http://www.urban-age.net/ Walton, M et al (2008) (eds.) Institutional Pathways to Equity: Addressing Inequality Traps, World Bank, Washington Lectures 27 0 123