1 Introduction: Governing Urban Transformations in Penang
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Creighton Connolly
Abstract
This chapter introduces the main themes covered in the book, including the landscape political ecology (LPE) framework, and how it helps to make sense of the type of controversies taking place in Penang. It also provides important scholarly context for the Penang case study, situating the book within earlier research on Penang and Malaysia in the urban studies literature. In particular, the chapter discusses the challenges that Penang’s urban centre of George Town has faced in balancing its considerable built heritage with its urban redevelopment aspirations over the past three decades. This tension is linked to broader aspirations at the national level with regards to modernization and urban development. Finally, the chapter introduces the significant civil society sector in Penang, and how they have shaped urban governance in the city-region.
Abstract
This chapter introduces the main themes covered in the book, including the landscape political ecology (LPE) framework, and how it helps to make sense of the type of controversies taking place in Penang. It also provides important scholarly context for the Penang case study, situating the book within earlier research on Penang and Malaysia in the urban studies literature. In particular, the chapter discusses the challenges that Penang’s urban centre of George Town has faced in balancing its considerable built heritage with its urban redevelopment aspirations over the past three decades. This tension is linked to broader aspirations at the national level with regards to modernization and urban development. Finally, the chapter introduces the significant civil society sector in Penang, and how they have shaped urban governance in the city-region.
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents v
- List of Figures vi
- List of Abbreviations vii
- Acknowledgements ix
- Preface xi
- Introduction: Governing Urban Transformations in Penang 1
- Towards a Landscape Political Ecology 20
- Megapolitan Explosions: Reworking Urban and Regional Metabolisms 38
- Competing Visions of Landscape Transformation in a Worlding City 57
- The Forests in the City: Building Participatory Approaches to Urban-Environmental Governance 77
- Integrating Cultural and Natural Heritage on Penang Hill 96
- Artificial Islands and the Production of New Urban Spaces 114
- Conclusion: An Island on an Urbanizing Frontier 135
- Notes 145
- References 148
- Index 185
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents v
- List of Figures vi
- List of Abbreviations vii
- Acknowledgements ix
- Preface xi
- Introduction: Governing Urban Transformations in Penang 1
- Towards a Landscape Political Ecology 20
- Megapolitan Explosions: Reworking Urban and Regional Metabolisms 38
- Competing Visions of Landscape Transformation in a Worlding City 57
- The Forests in the City: Building Participatory Approaches to Urban-Environmental Governance 77
- Integrating Cultural and Natural Heritage on Penang Hill 96
- Artificial Islands and the Production of New Urban Spaces 114
- Conclusion: An Island on an Urbanizing Frontier 135
- Notes 145
- References 148
- Index 185
