Hardback
Megaregions
Globalization’s New Urban Form?
9781782547891 Edward Elgar Publishing
By critically assessing the opportunities and challenges posed by planning and governing at the megaregional scale, this innovative book examines the latest conceptualizations of trans-metropolitan landscapes. In doing so, it seeks to uncover whether megaregions are a meaningful new spatial framework for the analysis of cities in globalization. Situated within the broader contours of global urban analysis, the book draws together a range of thought-provoking contributions from scholars engaged in the study of trans-metropolitan regions. It thereby provides multiple paths of access for those wishing to familiarize themselves with this topical area of global urban studies.
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Critical Acclaim
Contributors
Contents
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Are megaregions a meaningful new spatial framework for the analysis of cities in globalization? Drawing together a range of innovative contributions and case studies from around the world, this book interrogates the many claims and counter-claims made about megaregions and critically assesses their position within global urban studies.
Connecting research on megaregions to broader theoretical debates about globalized urbanization, the book examines the latest conceptualizations of trans-metropolitan landscapes. It investigates the opportunities and challenges posed by planning and governing at the megaregional scale and moves the debate forward to address questions of ‘how’, ‘why’ and ‘by whom’ megaregional spaces are being constructed.
This far-reaching book will be of considerable interest to a broad audience, appealing to those engaged in urban and regional studies, geography and planning, and with direct relevance for policymakers and practitioners working at international, state and local levels.
Connecting research on megaregions to broader theoretical debates about globalized urbanization, the book examines the latest conceptualizations of trans-metropolitan landscapes. It investigates the opportunities and challenges posed by planning and governing at the megaregional scale and moves the debate forward to address questions of ‘how’, ‘why’ and ‘by whom’ megaregional spaces are being constructed.
This far-reaching book will be of considerable interest to a broad audience, appealing to those engaged in urban and regional studies, geography and planning, and with direct relevance for policymakers and practitioners working at international, state and local levels.
Critical Acclaim
‘Megaregions presents an excellent collection of spatial-imaginary cameos drawn from the US and beyond, together with theoretically searching and provocative commentary from its editors. [The book] provides a series of thought-provoking and question-prompting interjections to inspire and prompt new research agendas. . .’
– Kathy Pain, Geographical Review
‘This splendid collection both defines and dissects trajectories of a research agenda on one of the chief, yet contested, discursive scalar fixes on our planet in an age of complete urbanization: the megaregion.’
– Roger Keil, York University, Canada
‘This challenging and exciting volume provides a comprehensive rethinking of the megaregion. Editors and contributors leave readers in no doubt about the extent of the transformations of the urban form under globalization. Replete with excellent empirical examples from around the world, this volume departs from previous studies. These have focused on questions of definition, delimitation and identification. Rather, the volume turns its attention to the construction of “megaregions” and the theoretical and methodological challenges that arise from this approach.’
– Kevin Ward, University of Manchester, UK
‘The growth of megaurban regions represents a profound challenge to extant governmental and governance arrangements, many of which continue to take for granted the power and authority of the national state. This edited collection on “Megaregions''” by John Harrison and Michael Hoyler effectively outlines the global scope of the challenge whilst, at the same time, pointing out its implications for the governance of urban regions in different parts of the world. It is an extremely valuable addition to the growing literature on city-regions and processes of regional urbanization.’
– Andrew E.G. Jonas, Hull University, UK
‘Contemporary globalization has given a new lease of life to the study of mega-city regions. Their problem has been that they can be easily designated – simply drawing lines around adjacent urban settlement – and superficially discussed. In contrast, this book revels in the complexities of today’s massive urbanization. Treating mega-city regions seriously and critically, this outstanding contribution should be necessary reading for anyone concerned for the problems and possibilities in our unique “urban century”.’
– Peter Taylor, Northumbria University, UK
– Kathy Pain, Geographical Review
‘This splendid collection both defines and dissects trajectories of a research agenda on one of the chief, yet contested, discursive scalar fixes on our planet in an age of complete urbanization: the megaregion.’
– Roger Keil, York University, Canada
‘This challenging and exciting volume provides a comprehensive rethinking of the megaregion. Editors and contributors leave readers in no doubt about the extent of the transformations of the urban form under globalization. Replete with excellent empirical examples from around the world, this volume departs from previous studies. These have focused on questions of definition, delimitation and identification. Rather, the volume turns its attention to the construction of “megaregions” and the theoretical and methodological challenges that arise from this approach.’
– Kevin Ward, University of Manchester, UK
‘The growth of megaurban regions represents a profound challenge to extant governmental and governance arrangements, many of which continue to take for granted the power and authority of the national state. This edited collection on “Megaregions''” by John Harrison and Michael Hoyler effectively outlines the global scope of the challenge whilst, at the same time, pointing out its implications for the governance of urban regions in different parts of the world. It is an extremely valuable addition to the growing literature on city-regions and processes of regional urbanization.’
– Andrew E.G. Jonas, Hull University, UK
‘Contemporary globalization has given a new lease of life to the study of mega-city regions. Their problem has been that they can be easily designated – simply drawing lines around adjacent urban settlement – and superficially discussed. In contrast, this book revels in the complexities of today’s massive urbanization. Treating mega-city regions seriously and critically, this outstanding contribution should be necessary reading for anyone concerned for the problems and possibilities in our unique “urban century”.’
– Peter Taylor, Northumbria University, UK
Contributors
Contributors: B. Fleming, M.R. Glass, J. Harrison, M. Hesse, M. Hoyler, A. Schafran, P. Schmitt, L. Smas, D. Wachsmuth, S.M. Wheeler, X. Zhang
Contents
Contents:
1. Megaregions: Foundations, Frailties, Futures
John Harrison and Michael Hoyler
2. Megaurban Regions: Epistemology, Discourse Patterns, Big Urban Business
Markus Hesse
3. Megaregions and the Urban Question: The New Strategic Terrain for US Urban Competitiveness
David Wachsmuth
4. Beyond Globalization: A Historical Urban Development Approach to Understanding Megaregions
Alex Schafran
5. Five Reasons Why Megaregional Planning Works Against Sustainability
Stephen M. Wheeler
6. Conflicting Spaces of Governance in the Imagined Great Lakes Megaregion
Michael R. Glass
7. Brave New ‘Megaregional Worlds’? Reflections from a North European Perspective
Lukas Smas and Peter Schmitt
8. Globalization and the Megaregion: Investigating the Evolution of the Pearl River Delta in a Historical Perspective
Xu Zhang
9. Towards a Megaregional Future: Analysing Progress, Assessing Priorities in the US Megaregion Project
Billy Fleming
10. Megaregions Reconsidered: Urban Futures and the Future of the Urban
John Harrison and Michael Hoyler
Index
1. Megaregions: Foundations, Frailties, Futures
John Harrison and Michael Hoyler
2. Megaurban Regions: Epistemology, Discourse Patterns, Big Urban Business
Markus Hesse
3. Megaregions and the Urban Question: The New Strategic Terrain for US Urban Competitiveness
David Wachsmuth
4. Beyond Globalization: A Historical Urban Development Approach to Understanding Megaregions
Alex Schafran
5. Five Reasons Why Megaregional Planning Works Against Sustainability
Stephen M. Wheeler
6. Conflicting Spaces of Governance in the Imagined Great Lakes Megaregion
Michael R. Glass
7. Brave New ‘Megaregional Worlds’? Reflections from a North European Perspective
Lukas Smas and Peter Schmitt
8. Globalization and the Megaregion: Investigating the Evolution of the Pearl River Delta in a Historical Perspective
Xu Zhang
9. Towards a Megaregional Future: Analysing Progress, Assessing Priorities in the US Megaregion Project
Billy Fleming
10. Megaregions Reconsidered: Urban Futures and the Future of the Urban
John Harrison and Michael Hoyler
Index
