Urban Development and Discourses of Modernity

As China's population continues to grow, the issue of rapid urbanization is becoming a dominant part of the nation's agenda. Experts predict that the “urbanized” population of China will nearby double—to 60 percent of the entire population—within the next twenty years. The objective of this panel is to address urban development in Chinese cities and how global notions of the "modern city" influence these changes. Issues such as sustainability, historical preservation, economic viability, and the approaching 2008 Olympics in Beijing will be discussed. The panel brings together a diverse group of professionals who will speak from their unique experiences in the academic/research, architectural design, and non-profit sectors. Ultimately, what lies in the future of Chinese cities and how will current American-Chinese discussions, and the American model of urbanization and subsequent suburbanization, shape the physical and social landscape of China?

Karen Seto (moderator), Assistant Professor of Geological and Environmental Sciences, Center Fellow, Stanford Institute for International Studies

Dennis Pieprz, President at Sasaki Associates, Inc.

Ke Fang, Urban Development Specialist, Transport and Urban Development Division, The World Bank