Critical Urban Geographies and Visions for the Future

We live in a rapidly changing world that presents many challenges and opportunities to urban communities. Climate change, technological advancements, growing populations, a desire for sustainability, and changing urbanisms are driving new visions for the future of cities. Geographers, social scientists and urban planners are engaged in envisioning Walkable Cities/New Urbanism, Smart Cities, Sustainable Cities, Resilient Cities, Creative Cities and so on.

This module will explore these urban futures and visions within the urban context of South Africa and, more specifically, Makhanda (Grahamstown). Biweekly seminars based on prescribed themes and texts will drive the module and will culminate in the development of a vision for the city and the local community. This vision will constitute an individual student project applying the theoretical components of the module to a practical scenario or application of their choice.

This module pairs directly with the ‘Governance and Spatial Planning in South Africa’ module. While you are not obliged to take both modules, it is advised.