This study identifies and accounts for the characteristics of the contemporary city and of urban society. It analyses the distribution and growth of settlements and explores the social and behavioural characteristics of urban living INDICE Preface 1. Global Patterns and Perspectives 1.1 Introduction 1.2 Studying the Urban World 1.3 A Global Economy? 1.4 A Global Society? 1.5 Conclusion 2. Urban Populations and Urban Places 2.1 Introduction 2.2 The Contemporary Urban World 2.3 A World of Towns and Cities 2.4 City Size Distributions and the Global Urban Hierarchy 2.5 Economic Theories of Urban Formation 2.6 Social Theories of Urban Formation 2.7 Conclusion 3. Urban Growth and Urbanization: Historical Patterns 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Urban Growth 3.3 Urbanization 3.4 Stages of Urban Development 3.5 Reasons for Urban Growth and Urbanization 3.6 Stages of Global Urban Development 3.7 Urbanization in a Capitalist World-Economy 3.8 Conclusion 4. Urban Development as a Global Phenomenon 4.1 Introduction 4.2 The New Global Economic Order 4.3 Global Finance 4.4 Global Services 4.5 The New Political Geography 4.6 The Urbanization of the Developing World 4.7 Conclusion 5. Socio-Economic Consequences of Global Urban Development 5.1 Introduction 5.2 The Urban Informal Sector 5.3 Shanty Towns 5.4 Service Provision 5.5 Health 5.6 Conclusion 6. Urban Culture and Global Urban Society 6.1 Introduction 6.2 Culture and Community in an a Spatial World 6.3 Global Media Services 6.4 Urban Imagery and Values 6.5 Global Urban Culture or Cultures? 6.6 Conclusion 7. World Cities 7.1 Introduction 7.2 The Hierarchy of World Cities 7.3 The Growth and Activities of the Institutions of Global Capital 7.4 The Concentration of Command and Control 7.5 Business Information and Decision-Making 7.6 Increasing Global Reach 7.7 Representing and Promoting Places as World Cities 7.8 Tokyo as an Example of a World City 7.9 Conclusion 8. The Future Urban World 8.1 Introduction 8.2 The Urban Future 8.3 Issues of S