The Arctic region is often portrayed as consisting of pristine, unspoiled nature, small settlements with indigenous communities detached culturally from the rest of the world. In Greenland, and in...Show moreThe Arctic region is often portrayed as consisting of pristine, unspoiled nature, small settlements with indigenous communities detached culturally from the rest of the world. In Greenland, and in other Arctic regions, the opposite is closer to reality. Greenland has been transformed and is transforming into an urban society, not without problems. Post-WII policies that sought to industrialise and modernise Greenlandic societies employed urbanisation as a key method, but left behind a history of trauma related to the forced relocation out of settlements, into an alienating urban society. This thesis argues, that there is a similar pattern unfolding at the moment and that the rationale behind urbanisation in Greenland did not change: it is the economic promise of affluence cities are considered to hold that drives politics of relocation. More lights need to be shed on urbanisation in Greenland, including its drivers and societal implications, as it can pave the way for full independence and could thus initiate the final state of decolonisation.Show less
Southeast Asia is a region at high risk of various natural disasters, with flooding being one of them. Often thought of as a purely natural hazard, in reality it is amplified by social, political...Show moreSoutheast Asia is a region at high risk of various natural disasters, with flooding being one of them. Often thought of as a purely natural hazard, in reality it is amplified by social, political and economic factors. Urban flooding in particular is a problem heavily influenced by these factors. Nevertheless, the problem is still frequently treated as a natural one that can be solved by technological measures. I argue that this approach is not efficient and forms the reason why urban flooding has not been solved yet. Instead, a deeper understanding of society is necessary in order to find sustainable solutions that benefit everyone. In the current situation, the urban poor are more at risk than the wealthy and mitigation efforts should consider these inequalities. Only by actively fighting inequality as underlying cause of urban flooding is it possible to ease the impacts of urban flooding and to create a resilient society. This thesis looks at the cases of Metro Manila and Bangkok to obtain a clearer picture of the complexity of the problem.Show less
The process of urbanisation was important during the Late Middle Ages in Europe. Traditionally, the rise of urban centres has been associated with unhealthier living conditions, compared to the...Show moreThe process of urbanisation was important during the Late Middle Ages in Europe. Traditionally, the rise of urban centres has been associated with unhealthier living conditions, compared to the countryside. However, this so-called ‘urban graveyard effect´ has been challenged by more recent historical and osteological research. Particularly, osteoarchaeologists have assessed the possible difference in living conditions between urban and rural areas through physiological stress markers, such as linear enamel hypoplasia (LEH). In the Netherlands, up to date, a specific and detailed osteoarchaeological analysis of the effect of urbanisation in children has not been done. To address this question, this thesis has studied the individuals from the Late Medieval urban centre of Alkmaar and rural village of Klaaskinderkerke, focusing on the prevalence, number of episodes, and age distribution of LEH in canines. The results show a lack of difference between Alkmaar and Klaaskinderkerke. High levels of prevalence and number of episodes are present in both populations; in addition, the defects followed a similar age distribution. Therefore, as historical sources also point out, these socioeconomic changes did not only affect the city but also the countryside. In the Netherlands, both spaces changed during the Late Middle Ages, and both had great importance in the rising Dutch economy. The high levels of physiological stress in the city and the countryside support the idea that this Dutch economic development did not mean an improvement in living conditions for people. In summary, living in the countryside was as physiologically stressful as living in the city.Show less
Internal migration in China has created a serious problem that has been identified by many scholars and policy makers for decades. The Chinese government attempts to restrict migration flow through...Show moreInternal migration in China has created a serious problem that has been identified by many scholars and policy makers for decades. The Chinese government attempts to restrict migration flow through a policy called ‘hukou’ that in its simplest form ties individuals to accessing public services only in one registered location meaning agricultural hukou type people can find moving to urban areas extremely difficult; ultimately creating a dualistic society within China and the policy has led to massive displacement and discrimination of one fifth of the population. Given the controversial and discriminatory nature of hukou, this paper will analyse why the Chinese government would choose to continue to implement such a policy and how through hukou’s implementation, the Chinese leadership is able to maintain domestic stability and have it contribute to their continued legitimacy through success in the fields of economic prosperity, social stability and national unity. The paper will examine both the economic and political benefits of hukou and the reasons why this may affect the decision to reform the policy.Show less
As in many large cities, rapid urbanisation in Santiago (Chile) has been accompanied by problems of urban sprawl, inequality, and issues with transportation. Since the late nineties social an...Show moreAs in many large cities, rapid urbanisation in Santiago (Chile) has been accompanied by problems of urban sprawl, inequality, and issues with transportation. Since the late nineties social an increasing amount of social movements have emerged that advocate the bicycle as a healthier, more efficient, and non-polluting transport alternative for that city. This thesis investigates the first of these new social movements, the Movimiento Furiosos Ciclistas (MFC), using the concept of the right to the city, introduced by the French sociologist and philosopher Henri Lefebvre, and which has undergone a revival over the last decade as a critical approach to the effects of urbanisation under neoliberalism on societies and their cities. The applicability of Lefebvre’s right to the city as a citizen’s demand for inclusion to their city and a greater control over its space is tested on the MFC in Santiago in the period spanning its emergence in 1994 up to the present year of 2015.The study analyses, firstly, the history, actions, and the organisation of the Movimiento Furiosos Ciclistas as a response to problems of Santiago’s urbanisation; secondly, the movement’s success in making such a demand and the obstacles that hinder; and finally, it tests the right to the city’s unifying potential in analyzing the relationship of the MFC to similar New Social Movements.Show less
This paper seeks to give a plausible range of population figures for second century A.D. Antioch in Roman Syria. The first chapter estimates the physical extent of the city and its suburbs. The...Show moreThis paper seeks to give a plausible range of population figures for second century A.D. Antioch in Roman Syria. The first chapter estimates the physical extent of the city and its suburbs. The second chapter studies the size and productivity of Antioch’s territory. On the basis of urbanisation rates, urban and rural population densities and ‘carrying capacity’ various scenarios are sketched to determine more and less likely figures. In the final chapter several ideas are considered towards explaining the population of Antioch and its hinterland.Show less
