Global S outh/ N orth

Abstract

A variety of labels are used to categorize the world: First/Third, East/West, developing/developed, and recently Global South/North. While most urban theory derives from Global North cities, contemporary urbanization is primarily situated in the Global South. This urban theory/practice spatial divergence has been critiqued by postcolonial scholars. Furthermore, while urban theory based on examples and empirical trends from the Global North are framed around modernity and innovation, the Global South city is overwhelmingly conceptualized through a development lens. This entry outlines the postcolonial call to internationalize urban studies via three different approaches: Southern urbanism, the ordinary city, and comparative urbanism.