Urban Design Politics
This MIT seminar examines how urban design shapes the distribution of political power and resources in cities, treating design not as neutral aesthetics but as a driving motive behind development decisions. Case studies drawn from both developed and developing countries illustrate public and private sector design commissions and planning processes shaped by political pressures, some explicit and some left unstated. Materials from MIT OpenCourseWare include the syllabus, readings, and assignments used in the seminar, letting students trace how built form and political purpose intersect across different national and economic contexts. The course is aimed at advanced students in urban studies, planning, and architecture who want to understand design decisions as political acts rather than purely functional or artistic choices. No certificate is offered, consistent with MIT OpenCourseWare's open publication of course materials.