Module Catalogue 2024/25

GEO3141 : Cities of the Global South (Inactive)

GEO3141 : Cities of the Global South (Inactive)

  • Inactive for Year: 2024/25
  • Module Leader(s): Dr Astrid Wood
  • Owning School: Geography, Politics & Sociology
  • Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters

Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.

Semester 2 Credit Value: 20
ECTS Credits: 10.0
European Credit Transfer System
Pre-requisite

Modules you must have done previously to study this module

Code Title
GEO2047Political Geography
GEO2099Economic Geography
GEO2103Development & Globalisation
GEO2110Social Geographies
Pre Requisite Comment

Any one of the following:

GEO2047 Political Geography
GEO2099 Economic Geography
GEO2103 Development & Globalisation
GEO2110 Social Geographies

Co-Requisite

Modules you need to take at the same time

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

This module introduces students to the geographies of cities of the Global South. The lectures, seminars, workshops and readings and assessments provide students with the opportunity to learn about contemporary urbanization processes such as economic growth, government, housing and transport. Instead of seeing these as developmental limitations, we will read recent critical urban geography scholarship which seeks to imagine the capacities and capabilities of cities of the global south. We will focus on the vitality of cities of the global south and their experiments and innovations that are increasingly becoming global best practice. These empirical examples will provide students with the opportunity to rethink northern theory and northern urban development patterns which has dominated geography for far too long.

It builds on ideas explored at Stage 2 and students should be comfortable with concepts in development, economic, political and/or social geography. Students will be expected to write two essays and participate in lecture and seminar discussions.

Outline Of Syllabus

The module is organized in two sections. The first part provides a background on southern urbanism introducing the relevant discussions on the global south as a concept rather than a geographical place as well as theoretical approaches to understanding the city. The second part ‘Geographies of cities of the global south’ is organized into two subthemes: ‘urbanization and infrastructure’ and ‘governance and change’. These two themes are interrelated. Together they explain contemporary urbanization processes including economic growth, government, housing and transport.

Part I: Introduction to the global south
1       Introduction to cities of the global south
2       Concepts and constructs of the city
3       A world of cities
Part II: Geographies of cities of the global south
a Urbanization and infrastructure
4       Growth and urbanization
5       Informality and the city
6       The urban environment
7       Mobilities and movement
b Governance and change
8       Urban governance and politics
9       Everyday politics
10       The experimental city
11       The connected city

12       The future of the global south

Learning Outcomes

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

-Key theoretical debates in the field of urban geography;
-The important role of cities of the global south within the wider world of cities;
-The challenges and opportunities of urbanization processes; and
-Urban issues such as economic growth, government, housing and transport in cities of the global south;

Intended Skill Outcomes

-Read the latest academic and grey literature on cities of the global south;
-Develop and improve critical thinking skills by reading complex academic publications;
-Write a clear and convincing argument, analyse a topic in a logical manner and substantiate arguments with academic references; and
-Participate in module discussions and communicate ideas in small group discussion

Teaching Methods

Teaching Activities
Category Activity Number Length Student Hours Comment
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesLecture122:0024:00N/A
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesSmall group teaching61:006:00N/A
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesWorkshops22:004:00N/A
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesDrop-in/surgery21:002:00N/A
Guided Independent StudyIndependent study1164:00164:00N/A
Total200:00
Teaching Rationale And Relationship

-Lectures introduce, develop and illustrate the core conceptual, theoretical and empirical content of the module.
-Seminars and workshops provide an opportunity for students to engage with module material

Reading Lists

Assessment Methods

The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners

Other Assessment
Description Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Essay2M401500 word essay
Essay2M502000 word essay
Prof skill assessmnt2M10Seminar
Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The assessments are designed to provide an appropriate way to assess your ability to structure and express arguments; exhibit evidence of critical engagement with assigned readings; demonstrate the ability to engage with scholarly arguments; and analyze the material and formulate a rigorous argument.

Timetable

Past Exam Papers

General Notes

N/A

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Disclaimer

The information contained within the Module Catalogue relates to the 2024 academic year.

In accordance with University Terms and Conditions, the University makes all reasonable efforts to deliver the modules as described.

Modules may be amended on an annual basis to take account of changing staff expertise, developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback. Module information for the 2025/26 entry will be published here in early-April 2025. Queries about information in the Module Catalogue should in the first instance be addressed to your School Office.