This handbook adopts a fresh and critical approach to the field of urbanization in the Global South. It integrates the emerging debates about the diverse trajectories of the urbanization processes in the context of neo-liberal global alignments. The handbook, which contains ten sections, examines the issues and concerns that urban dwellers, planners, and policymakers face in the contemporary world. It covers various aspects of urbanisation, particularly in Asia and Africa. It presents trends and patterns spatiality associated with it. It discusses the disparity in access to quality housing and essential services, issues related to governance and financing of urban development,  as well as policies guiding the path of sustainable urbanization and the increasing specter of disparity, especially in the post-pandemic period and in the era of ‘smart-city’ development.

It is essential for a broad interdisciplinary and intersectional readership at undergraduate and postgraduate levels in urban studies, urban economics, urban geography, urban sociology, urban planning, and disciplines related to development studies.

Debolina Kundu is a Professor at the National Institute of Urban Affairs, India and has over 25 years of professional experience in the field of development studies.  A Ph.D from the Jawaharlal Nehru University, she has published extensively in national and international journals on urban issues. She is currently the chief editor of journals - Environment and Urbanisation, Asia (SAGE) and Urban India (NIUA). She has worked on various projects with GIZ, ADB, LSE, IIDS, Tata Trusts, UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF, UNESCAP, KfW, GIZ, Urban Institute, Washington and East-West Centre Honolulu on extensively on issues of urbanization, migration, urban development policies, municipal finance, smart cities, governance and exclusion.

She is the Country Investigator - India for the GCRF Centre for Sustainable Healthy and Learning Cities and Neighbourhoods, which is supported by UK Research and Innovation. A member of the Fifth Delhi Finance Commission, she has been associated with various expert groups set up by the Government of India. Her recently edited book is on National Urban Policies (Springer).