The Deteriorating World of Urbanization

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As populations around the world begin to exponentially rise, it is becoming quite evident that an influx of rapid urbanization is increasingly affecting global cities. Rural populations are shrinking as both megacities and hyper cities form – however, these various cities that are emerging are not remotely urbanized, lacking serious levels of growth. Fluctuating populations are ultimately severing the economic stability of less industrialized countries. Mike Davis, a modern day Marxist and author of “Planet of Slums”, vividly illustrates the great disasters that humans are forced to live with on a day-to-day basis throughout the Third World.
The world as we know it is very rapidly deteriorating around us, and Davis explicitly encapsulates the horrendous events taking place within the global arena. Davis begins by highlighting the negative effects of Third World urbanization (p. 14). Less developed countries lack the infrastructure and economic stability to house and provide for their growing populations. As a result, nations must seek help from various organizations and First World countries – with the hopes of eliminating inner city poverty. However, the acceleration of slums is becoming more prevalent; in turn a number of perpetuating social and economic problems are erupting. Deconstructing the complicated histories of specific cities, Davis evaluates the remnants of Western colonialism. Racial segregation is prominent in the Third World, as socially invented minorities are consistently pushed to the outskirts of urban fringes (p. 52). Forced systematic rural migration adds to spatial zoning as poorer populations have no choice but to relocate to the outskirts of cities and live in some of the greatest built slums (p. 53).
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...lack any type of resolution for the occurring events. All of these issues have become so deeply rooted, that it seems as though there is no hope for these cities – or our world in itself. It would be interesting to see how those individuals living in slums, would interpret this book – revolving around their living situations. By recommending this book to slum dwellers, one would be able to see if there is a common ground in regards to the foundations of what has caused such terrible living standards and conditions. Within Planet of Slums Davis roots the acceleration of slums, environmental degradation and economic instability to colonialism, and restructuring programs introduced by organizations – seeking to help the Third World. However, depending on what side of the world one stands – the deteriorating world may have foundations in something completely different.

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