The return of the city-region in the new urban agenda: is this relevant in the Global South?

Abstract

A city-region strategy to achieve sustainable urban development is proposed in the New Urban Agenda (NUA) and related planning guidelines. This concept originates in planning ideas from the early 20th century, has since been subject to extensive and shifting theoretical debate, and has been tested in practice in various parts of the world. Yet, the guidelines propose a city-region concept with limited response to recent theoretical development, or the critique that Global North-inspired ideas may be less useful in other parts of the world. The paper concludes by suggesting different starting points to implement the goals of the NUA.