Suburbanization Transnational Migration And Dispossession: Exploring the Shifting Landscape of Urban Development

Suburbanization, transnational migration, and dispossession are three interconnected phenomena that shape the contemporary urban landscape. The rapid urbanization experienced globally has led to increased pressure on cities, resulting in the expansion of urban areas into suburban regions. This article delves into the complex dynamics of suburbanization, transnational migration, and the consequences of dispossession, highlighting the multifaceted nature of these processes and their impact on individuals, communities, and socioeconomic structures.

The Rise of Suburbanization

Over the past few decades, there has been a notable shift in urban development patterns, with a growing preference for suburban living. Suburbanization refers to the outward expansion of cities, leading to the creation of sprawling suburban areas surrounding urban centers. This trend is driven by various factors, including the desire for better housing options, a quieter and more peaceful lifestyle, and the availability of more affordable land outside of congested city centers.

However, suburbanization is not solely a result of individual choices; it is also influenced by government policies and urban planning decisions. Subsidies, tax incentives, and infrastructure investments often favor suburban development over the revitalization of urban areas. This has led to urban sprawl, increased traffic congestion, and the fragmentation of communities.

Neoliberalizing Spaces in the Philippines: Suburbanization, Transnational Migration, and Dispossession

by John Foreman(Kindle Edition)

4.5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	66528 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
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Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	371 pages

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Transnational Migration: Redefining Urban Diversity

Transnational migration, on the other hand, redefines the urban fabric, bringing new cultural diversity and challenges to cities worldwide. The movement of people across borders and the establishment of transnational communities have transformed urban areas into vibrant melting pots of cultures, cuisines, and languages. This dynamic interaction between migrants and local residents has both positive and negative implications for social cohesion and the distribution of resources.

While transnational migration can foster economic growth, contribute to cultural enrichment, and even address labor shortages, it can also lead to social tensions and inequalities. Migrants often face difficulties in accessing basic services such as healthcare, education, and housing. Discrimination and marginalization can further exacerbate social disparities, creating a fragmented urban society.

Dispossession: The Dark Side of Urban Development

Dispossession is an inherent consequence of urban development, as it involves the displacement of populations from their homes and communities. As cities expand and gentrification takes hold, vulnerable populations often bear the brunt of these changes. Dislocation and eviction disrupt established social networks, destroy cultural heritage, and perpetuate cycles of poverty and inequality.

Dispossession is not limited to the physical displacement of individuals; it also includes the loss of livelihoods, access to resources, and the undermining of traditional ways of life. The impacts of dispossession are often felt disproportionately by marginalized communities, such as indigenous peoples, low-income households, and racial and ethnic minorities.

The Interconnected Nature of Urban Trends

These three urban phenomena - suburbanization, transnational migration, and dispossession - are deeply interconnected, shaping the urban landscape in complex ways. Suburbanization and transnational migration can intensify patterns of dispossession, as vulnerable populations are pushed further to the margins in the quest for urban expansion and economic growth. Dispossession, in turn, can result in transnational migration as individuals seek new opportunities and establish transnational communities outside their country of origin.

Understanding these interconnections is crucial for policymakers, urban planners, and scholars to develop inclusive and sustainable urban development strategies. Balancing the need for growth and improved living standards with social equity and environmental sustainability is a complex challenge that requires integrated approaches.

Suburbanization, transnational migration, and dispossession are inextricably linked and shape the rapidly changing urban landscape in profound ways. As cities continue to grow, it is imperative to address the challenges and consequences of these processes. Nurturing inclusive communities, combating inequalities, and promoting sustainable urban development is vital for creating cities that can accommodate both growth and diversity. By understanding and addressing these complex interrelationships, we can strive towards creating cities that are equitable, resilient, and livable for all.

Neoliberalizing Spaces in the Philippines: Suburbanization, Transnational Migration, and Dispossession

by John Foreman(Kindle Edition)

4.5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	66528 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	371 pages

FREE

Amidst the recent global financial crisis and housing busts in various countries, the Philippines’ booming housing industry has been heralded as “Southeast Asia’s hottest real estate hub” and the saving grace of a supposedly resilient Philippine economy. This growth has been fueled by demand from balikbayan (returnee) Overseas Filipinos and has facilitated the rise of gated suburban communities in Manila’s sprawling peri-urban fringe. But as the “Filipino dreams” of successful balikbayans are built inside these new gated residential developments, the lives of marginalized populations living in these spaces have been upended and thrown into turmoil as they face threats of expulsion.

Based on almost four years of research, this book examines the tumultuous geographies of neoliberalization that link suburbanization, transnational mobilities, and accumulation by dispossession. Through an accounting of real estate and new suburban landscapes, it tells of a Filipino transnationalism that engenders a market-based and privatized suburban political economy that reworks socio-spatial relations and class dynamics. In presenting the literal and discursive transformations of spaces in Manila’s peri-urban fringe, the book details life inside new gated suburban communities and discusses the everyday geographies of “privileged” new property owners—mainly comprised of balikbayan families—and exposes the contradictions of gated suburban life, from resistance to Home Owner Association rules to alienating feelings of loss. It also reveals the darker side of the property boom by mapping the volatile spaces of the Philippines’ surplus populations comprised of the landless farmers, informal settler residents, and indigenous peoples. To make way for gated communities and other profitable developments in the peri-urban region, marginalized residents are systematically dispossessed and displaced while concomitantly offered relocation to isolated socialized housing projects, the last frontier for real estate accumulation.
These compelling accounts illustrate how the territorial embeddedness of neoliberalization in the Philippines entails the consolidation of capital by political-economic elites and privatization of residential space for an idealized transnational property clientele. More than ever, as the Philippines is being reshaped by diaspora and accumulation by dispossession, the contemporary moment is a critical time to reflect on what it truly means to be a nation.