Upon successful completion of this subject, students will have:

• developed their ability to evaluate critically different theories and analytical approaches. Critical definitions of several notion such as: City, Metropolitan Area, Megacities, Globalcities, Fragmented cities, Metapolis, Periurban space, Socio-spatial segregations, Ghetto, Spontaneous settlements, Gated communities, Gentrification, Smart cities, Mega events, Urban social movements, Urban utopias, Eco-cities etc.
• be able to understand new Urban Geography concepts, objectives, theories, policies and practices.
• analyze the geography of a variety of urban phenomena. Be able to interpret the contemporary metropolis structure in different spaces and times.
• critical approach of urban (social, ecological, cultural and economic) phenomena in Metropolitan Regions
• identify a variety of urban geography approaches about Metropolitan Regions
• be able to integrate knowledge with critical thinking skills to comparative trans-disciplinary approaches.

In the 21st century the spatial implications of Metropolitan development are widespread: from environmental challenges to entrenched patterns of segregation to new configurations of politics and new social movements. This module introduces students to some of the key themes, concepts and debates characterising geography of metropolitan regions in several schools of Critical Geography and in critical approaches of urban social, ecological, cultural and economic processes in several big cities in the world. The course then focuses on new urban phenomena and on various comparisons between Greek cities and other cities in the world and especially on European and American cities. Among the topics covered initially are conceptualisations of the urban condition, accumulation by dispossession, suburbanization and peri-urbanisation, gated communities’, slums, spontaneous settlements and favelas (popular auto-construction), gentrification, fragmental cities, urban social movements, eco-cities, utopian cities, smart cities etc.. Spatial exclusion: social, economic, environmental and cultural issues. Gender issues and anti-colonial approaches in Urban Geography.

1. Harvey D., 2007. Η Κατάσταση της μετανεωτερικότητας. Athens: Μεταίχμιο
2. Davιs M., 2008. Πέρα από Το Blade Runer. Athens: Futura
3. Castells Μ., 2005. Ο Γαλαξίας tου Διαδικτύου. Athens: Καστανιώτης
4. Hall Τ., 2005. Αστική γεωγραφία (Urban Geography), Athens: Κριτική.
5. Petropoulou C., Vitopoulou A., Tsavdaroglou C. (editors), 2016. Urban and Regional Social Movements. April 2016, Thessaloniki, Research Group Invisible Cities https://aoratespoleis.wordpress.com
6. Λεοντίδου (ed), 2009. Ευρωπαϊκές Γεωγραφίες, Τεχνολογία και Υλικός Πολιτισμός. Patra: ΕΑΠ.
7. Γοσποδίνη, Α. & Μπεριάτος, Η. (ed.) 2006. Τα νέα αστικά τοπία και η ελληνική πόλη. Athens: Κριτική,
8. Σταυρίδης Σ., 2002. Από την πόλη οθόνη στην πόλη σκηνή. Athens: Ελληνικά Γράμματα
9. Lefebvre, H. (1968/1973) Le droit à la ville, Paris : Anthropos.
10. Xingming Chen, Orum Α., Paulsen Κ., 2013. Introduction to Cities. How place and space shape Human experience. Wiley – Blackwell.
11. Soja E., 2000. Postmetropolis: Critical Studies οf Cities and Regions. Oxford: Basil Blackwell,
12. Monde Diplomatique. 2010. Atlas
13. Berneri M.L., 1999 . Περιήγηση στην ουτοπία. Salonica: Nisides (Νησίδες)
14. Petropoulou C., 2011. "Développement urbain et écopaysages urbains. Une étude sur les quartiers de Mexico et d’Athènes". Paris : L’Harmattan.