The Politics of Civic Space in Asia: Building Urban Communities

摘要

Asian cities are the masters of self-promotion, all with glossy self-images designed to attract international investment and tourism. Until recently there have been few critical studies of what lies below the surface of the glossy images-focusing on the real distribution of the economic gains, the impacts of development on ordinary residents, the influence citizens have on local development decisions, the quality of the built environment beyond the glitzy skyscrapers and mega-projects, and changing patterns of urban life. The Politics of Civic Space in Asia is an important contribution to understanding these issues, together with its earlier companion, Globalization, the City and Civil Society in Asian Cities, also edited by Mike Douglass.