Building on the foundations laid in Social Theory I, this course explores developments in contemporary urban theory into the 21st century. By focusing on the urban policy, political, and governance dynamics of the South Asian urban experience, this course provides students with a solid grounding in the theoretical models used in urban studies and critical development research. Students will be introduced to key texts by scholars such as James Holston, Gautam Bhan, Veena Das, and Lisa Björkman to become familiar with the arguments that have generated and sustained debates surrounding the “right to the city” and the governance of informality. We will then restate these debates within the Global South, affording students opportunities to engage deeply with contemporary currents in theorizing about urban governance, material infrastructure, and speculative state-making in South Asia. This course provides both a framework for understanding the history and development of these urban practices as well as a forum for students to practice their application through engaged projects on their chosen theme connected with city of Karachi.
