Worlding cities through transportation infrastructure

Abstract

This paper engages with emerging literature on worlding cities in analyzing the contested ways in which mid-sized cities attempt to 'globalize' through the redevelopment of urban infrastructure, and in particular, transportation infrastructure. The paper focuses specifically on the World Heritage City of Penang, Malaysia and critically examines controversies over the extensive urban redevelopment and regeneration projects that have emerged since 2012. In particular, it examines the ambitious Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP), which has posed considerable implications for the city's heritage landscapes, but also several socio-environmental impacts. The paper analyses the State Government's vision for the PTMP, before turning to an alternative strategy and critique of this plan put forth by local civil society organizations. As I demonstrate, both plans make use of worlding strategies in 'selling' their particular vision for the city's future, but the way in which they do so is markedly different. In reviewing this case, the paper challenges the conceptualization of inter-referencing and urban modeling practices as it is currently documented in the literature on worlding cities. What is novel in Penang is the way in which local stakeholders identify comparable cities outside of the global North as models to follow, rather than established mega or 'world' cities, which act as more realistic reference points. In doing so, the paper highlights key technologies of governance that are being used to counter the neoliberal worlding strategies put forth by city managers.

What kind of global city? Circulating policies for ‘slum’ upgrading in the making of world-class Buenos Aires

“…Based on Wood's (2016) methodology (follow the people, follow the meetings and follow the materials), I have mainly argued that the circulation of 'slum' upgrading models has contributed to policy change towards low-income settlements in Buenos Aires, by offering an opportunity to position the city as world-class. Firstly, the study has shown that policy change (towards a logic of socio-territorial integration) was the result of the circulation of "seductive neoliberal urban futures" (Pow, 2014: 289), particularly from 'comparable cities' (Connolly, 2018) in Latin America. The social and territorial integration project of Villa 31 is the product of a series of assemblages from different mobile urban initiatives and archetypes, which have been transformed due to local occurrences and actors.…”

“…It also demonstrates how powerful the circulation of policies is, particularly when supported by powerful structures or ideas that already contain certain legitimacy and contribute to the generation of a model, even before it starts showing results. In this vein, the circulation of models from 'comparable cities' in Latin America that have been considered successful (Connolly, 2018), provided traction and credibility to the Buenos Aires' social and territorial integration project, as well as an opportunity to project itself as world-class. This is obviously framed in an international development apparatus that encourages the implementation of these types of programmes (Montero, 2018).…”

From resilience to multi-species flourishing: (Re)imagining urban-environmental governance in Penang, Malaysia

“…In a more recent example, the Penang State Government announced plans for one of two pan-island expressways, which would connect the north coast of Penang Island to the airport in the south in 15 minutes, known as Penang Island Link 1 (or PIL1). This road is part of the controversial Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP), and has received significant public resistance for its potential impacts on the environment of Penang, its flora and fauna and the health and safety of its human residents (see Connolly, 2018). Figure 2 shows protesters in Penang holding up a banner which reads ‘ Selamatkan Bukit-Bukau Pulau Pinang ’ (Save the hills of Penang Island).…”

Urban political ecologies of heritage: Integrating cultural and natural landscapes in Penang, Malaysia

“…Yet, as has been documented by other scholars of Malaysia, this valorisation of slow‐paced development is not shared by local politicians for whom “development” and “modernity” are integral to the Malaysian nation‐building project (Bunnell, ; Goh, ; Lepawsky, ). Indeed, Penang's politicians have been labelled “development obsessed” for their frequent references to Hong Kong and Singapore as models to follow and expensive infrastructure projects (Connolly, ; Nambiar, ; Netto, ; Ng, ). This will also be seen in the following section, whereby the State Government has continued to promote large development projects on Penang Hill, despite seeking to promote its cultural and natural heritage attributes.…”