RESPONSE PAPER 2
This chapter in Frank Tonkiss's "Cities by Design" focuses on the interplay between urban
areas and social life, analyzing how people design, navigate, and experience cities alongside
the physical development of the built environment. 1This essay investigates various topics,
including urban informality and what is right for the city?
Firstly, in addition to the discussion of urban functions and trajectories, it highlights how
cities like New York evolve based on their historical, economic, and social contexts. As a
world-class, cosmopolitan hub with a top-tier economy, New York exemplifies a city deeply
shaped by capitalism, where financial powerhouses drive global influence. However, the
reading also emphasizes how infrastructure violence, such as uneven urban development,
gentrification, and displacement can worsen inequalities, disproportionately affecting
marginalized communities. Dispossession, a key consequence of capitalist urbanization,
manifests in rising property values that push out lower-income residents, reinforcing
socio-economic divides. While some benefit from economic growth, others experience
exclusion, demonstrating how cities must be analyzed not only for their design but also for
their social and economic impacts. The influence of celebrity architects on urban
environments raises serious concerns regarding the repercussions of high-profile, iconic
constructions. When city planners work with famous architects to design landmark buildings,
they frequently want to put their communities "on the map," attracting global investment,
tourism, and economic growth. However, this trend may lead to infrastructural violence and
dispossession, promoting capitalist urbanization.
1
Tonkiss, "introduction” page11
Cities like Hong Kong, which prioritize efficiency and international prominence, are formed
by significant events and capitalist pressures. While growth is vital, cities must strike a
balance between spectacle and inclusivity to benefit all citizens, not just the wealthy, in my
opinion. It also looks at how agricultural excess led to the early development of cities,
enabling specialization outside of hunting and gathering. Early communities, such as
Palestine's Jericho, one of the earliest cities built on irrigation,2 grew naturally, with social
structures and protective walls developing alongside farming. In a similar vein, early Turkish
cities incorporated religion and rituals into daily life. This change signaled the advent of
structured urbanism, which shaped the development and operation of cities.
Cities by Design's first chapter also emphasizes how urban planning helps strike a balance
between economic growth, efficiency, and the well-being of citizens. Critics contend that
current problems are frequently ignored, despite the fact that predicting housing demand and
infrastructure requirements is essential. Urban development is shaped by architects,
engineers, and politicians, but politicians have the financial clout to influence choices. Cities
like Karachi demonstrate the important responsibilities played by organizations like the
World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, and CPEC.3 Defining sustainable planning and
integrating people, animals, and nature into urban design is the difficult part. Sustainable
planning, in my opinion, ought to put long-term livability ahead of immediate financial
rewards. Unsustainable growth results when financial and political interests take precedence
2
Richard, Suzanne. “Archaeological Sources for the History of Palestine: The Early Bronze
Age: The Rise and Collapse of Urbanism.” The Biblical Archaeologist 50, no. 1 (1987):
22–43.
3
Asaf Humayun, and Naghmana Zafar. “Pakistan’s ‘Blue Economy’: Potential and
Prospects.” Policy Perspectives 11, no. 1 (2014): 57–76.
over the needs of society. For the benefit of present and future generations, cities should have
green areas, robust infrastructure, and inclusive policies.
Lastly, I think the reading occasionally overemphasizes capitalism's negative influence on
urban growth, 4ignoring important topics like infrastructure violence and urban inequality.
Even while gentrification and displacement are legitimate issues, economic expansion creates
opportunities, such as more excellent public places, jobs, and infrastructure. Instead of
completely rejecting economic influence, cities must balance investment and inclusivity.
I also believe that cities can use economic prosperity to effect positive change. Even if issues
like gentrification and displacement are problematic, well-managed urban investment can
result in greater public spaces, jobs, and infrastructure. Cities should figure out how to strike
a balance between inclusivity and economic advancement rather than altogether rejecting
capitalism. 5Prioritizing accessible services, green areas, and cheap housing may guarantee
that growth benefits all locals. A genuinely successful city builds a sustainable future for
everybody by embracing equity and growth.
4
Tonkiss, "introduction” page16
5
Colenbrander, Sarah. “Cities as Engines of Economic Growth: The Case for Providing Basic
Infrastructure and Services in Urban Areas.” International Institute for Environment and
Development, 2016.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Asaf Humayun, and Naghmana Zafar. “Pakistan’s ‘Blue Economy’: Potential and Prospects.”
Policy Perspectives 11, no. 1 (2014): 57–76. [Link]
Colenbrander, Sarah. “Cities as Engines of Economic Growth: The Case for Providing Basic
Infrastructure and Services in Urban Areas.” International Institute for Environment and
Development, 2016. [Link]
Tonkiss, “Introduction: Cities by Design” Cities by design, the social life of urban form, fran,
page 16.
Tonkiss, “Introduction: Cities by Design” Cities by design, the social life of urban form, fran,
page 11.
Richard, Suzanne. “Archaeological Sources for the History of Palestine: The Early Bronze
Age: The Rise and Collapse of Urbanism.” The Biblical Archaeologist 50, no. 1 (1987):
22–43. [Link]
