The Urban Frontier: Rights, environment and citizenship on the rapdily growing urban fringe of world cities.

Project description

Rapid urban population growth is putting unprecedented pressure on the periphery of cities . Existing rural communities and agricultural land are being enveloped or supplanted by new urban settlement. This phenomenon is creating urgent challenges for urban governance, infrastructure, environmental protection and citizenship (or ‘right to the city’) for new urban settlers. This research will use the experiences of daily life for those living on the urban periphery in India and Australia to investigate ways that citizens can be better integrated into the environmental, social, economic and political life the wider metropolis.

Outcomes

This project will provide high quality graduate training for a PhD student in critical ethnographic research using fieldwork in two different global urban environments experiencing some similar challenges.

In addition to a high quality PhD research thesis, this project will produce a number of research publications in top tier academic journals authored by both supervisors and the PhD student. The project will also lay a foundation for continuing collaborative research between Professor Arora, Dr Walters and future research higher degree students from India and Australia.

Essential capabilities

Honours or Masters degree in the social sciences with a thesis component; high level of written academic English ability; Applicants from India should have completed the UGC-NET/UGC-JRF

Desireable capabilities

background in sociology, anthropology or human geography; qualitative research skills

Expected qualifications (Course/Degrees etc.)

Bachelors plus Honours/Masters (with thesis component)

Candidate Discipline

Peri-urban citizenship informality community.