Development is a word used to measure the growth and success of a country or region. Theoretically, a country with more developed cities in it is richer than those without. In reality, the use of the word, development carries with it a lot of nuance. The most popular definition of development tends to be urbanisation, the establishment of big cities that provide job opportunities for people from all over the country. The question becomes, is development really that cut and dry? The United Nations says that rapid urbanisation may actually be an issue, stating that cities are currently encountering unprecedented challenges across various aspects such as demographics, environment, economy, society, and space, with a projection that 6 out of every 10 people worldwide will be residing in urban areas by 2030.

Without effective urban planning, the rapid urbanisation taking place could lead to significant negative consequences. Many regions are already experiencing issues like insufficient housing leading to the expansion of slums, outdated infrastructure, public transport, access to water, sanitation, rising levels of poverty and unemployment, safety concerns and crime rates, pollution and health problems, as well as mismanaged natural and man-made disasters that are only made worse by climate change.

There is a need for a shift in the mindset and approach towards urbanisation to ensure that development can actually create opportunities that benefit all members of society. In this video, Associate Professor of Political Science, John Donaldson explains his research into rural development, and why urbanisation alone may not be the answer to Asia’s development goals.