From the ‘Ordinary or Planetary’: Does Structural Irrelevance Matter in a Decolonised Global South?

The field of urban studies has long grappled with the dichotomy between cities in the global North and those in the global South, particularly in the context of climate change and resource centralization. This division has led to a segmented urban theory that often overlooks the unique challenges faced by cities in poorer regions. The concept of 'ordinary cities' has emerged as a counter-narrative, attempting to shift the focus from the dominant global city perspective and re-evaluate notions of 'planetary urbanization' and 'glossy globalization.' These frameworks have traditionally painted a picture of winners and losers in the urban landscape, with structurally irrelevant cities being left behind in the race for global recognition. Recent studies have highlighted the limited resources and investments allocated to these cities, resulting in poor representation in global city rankings. Despite these efforts, there remains a significant gap in understanding how urban-ordinary or planetary frameworks can promote inclusive and emancipatory participation at the grassroots level. This research topic seeks to address these gaps by exploring the structural irrelevance of cities in the global South and their potential to inform new urban policies that advance social and territorial justice.

This research topic aims to investigate the extent to which structural irrelevance impacts cities in the global South and to explore the potential for these cities to redefine urban theory in a way that reflects their unique experiences. By examining case studies from South Asian, Southeast Asian, and East Asian contexts, the research will address questions such as whether cities in the global South need to be viewed through the lens of the global North, how cities can reinvent themselves amidst global capitalism, and the role of governance in urban transformation. The overarching goal is to challenge existing urban theories and propose a decolonized discourse that is inclusive and reflective of the diverse realities of cities in the global South.

To gather further insights into the structural irrelevance of cities in the global South, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

• the characteristics of thriving cities outside the traditional global core
• the impact of global, national, and regional capitalism on urban reinvention
• balancing city life with urban transformation in developing contexts
• governance crises and their implications for urban policy
• the role of developmentalism in the progression of cities
• vulnerability of cities in the global South to global economic trends
• the significance of structural irrelevance for urban development
• the dangers of reinforcing theoretical irrelevance through selective city models
• the need for urban theories that reflect the experiences of the global South.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Community Case Study
• Conceptual Analysis
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Community Case Study
• Conceptual Analysis
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Policy Brief
• Registered Report
• Review
• Systematic Review

Keywords: ordinary cities, planetary cities, structural irrelevance, governance, developmentalism

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.