On the conditions of ‘late urbanisation’

We are living through a global urban transition, but the timing of this transition has varied significantly across countries and regions. This geographic variation in matters, both theoretically substantively. Yet contemporary debates on urbanism hinge primarily questions universalism versus particularism, at expense attention to how history geography collide shape processes. Specifically, they neglect critical fact that urbanisation many today is late within context transition. argue trajectories must be understood relation suite conditions unique 20th early 21st centuries partly shaped by urbanisation, including historically unprecedented demographic intensity, hyperglobalisation, centripetal state politics spectre environmental catastrophe Anthropocene. These factors condition range possibilities for urbanisers ways did not apply yet can also produce diverse outcomes depending local circumstances. draw comparison between sub-Saharan Africa China illustrate why matter, have produced highly variable deterministic futures.