SOSGEO4250 – Global Cities

Course content

This course takes the concept of the Global City as its starting point to understand metropolitan life through this particular expression of contemporary urbanism. The limitations of such a conceptual framing will be explored, and applicability of the concept to cities outside the ‘West’ will be examined. In addition to exploring key issues in urban studies through the frame of the global city, the course also aims to introduce methodological perspectives for studying how global city processes manifest at the scale of the everyday. In doing so, this course takes the ‘urban’ as the primary unit of analysis, as opposed to the ‘national’ or ‘state’.

The first part of the course introduces and discusses the main critiques of conceptualisations of Global Cities, after which examples of Global Cities from the ‘North’ and ‘South’ are discussed in greater detail. The course goes on to present methodological perspectives for doing research in such urban spaces. The second half of the course delves into important urban concerns around liveability, sustainability and the economy, amongst others, approached from the perspective of the Global City. As far as possible, discussions and the selection of readings will attempt a balance between cities of the global ‘North’ and ‘South’, with a particular focus on Asia.

While the Global City is the key framing of the course, it is primarily used as an empirical and epistemic perspective through which to understand interrelated social and sociological issues of globalization and the interconnectedness of everyday urban life in big cities.

Learning outcome

By the end of the course students should be able to

1. Define and identify characteristics of the Global City

2. Critique the concept of the Global City and discuss its shortcomings, both theoretically and in terms of the implications for urban residents.

3. Understand how to employ the method of ‘global ethnography’ with respect to the relationship between different scales of analysis; the global and everyday.

4. Discuss issues of urban inequality, international migration, local governance, city-branding attempts, liveability and sustainability with regards to the Global City.

Teaching

Lectures and in-class discussions

There will be one obligatory assignment in the course. It has to be accepted and passed before you are able to take the final exam. Details and deadlines will be given in Canvas.

Examination

The assessment is based on a term paper.

It is possible to take the exam up to 3 times. If you withdraw from the exam after the deadline or during the exam, this will be counted as an examination attempt.

Language of examination

The examination text is given in English. You may submit your response in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or English.

Grading scale

Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.

Resit an examination

If you are sick or have another valid reason for not attending the regular exam, we offer a postponed exam later in the same semester.

See also our information about resitting an exam.

More about examinations at UiO

• Use of sources and citations
• Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
• Withdrawal from an exam
• Illness at exams / postponed exams
• Explanation of grades and appeals
• Resitting an exam
• Cheating/attempted cheating

You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.