Articles

The Center for Khmer Studies (CKS), one of Ponlok Chomnes Core Partners, has recently released a new report entitled “Limits to Growth: A Vulnerability Approach to Understanding Urbanization in Cambodia” that features essays by leading experts on Cambodian urbanization, including:

• Adam Saltsman, Assistant Professor and Director of the Urban Action Institute at Worcester State University;
• Natharoun Ngo, Director of CKS;
• Kimchoeun Pak, independent researcher;
• Try Thuon, CKS Senior Fellow;
• Dolorès Bertrais, PhD candidate and Teaching and Research Assistant at The Environmental Governance and Territorial Development Institute at the University of Geneva; and
• Gabriel Fauveaud, Assistant Professor at Department of Geography, University of Montreal.

Urbanization triggers new challenges and shocks to social, economic, environmental, and political systems for Cambodia’s urban residents. Yet, there is little analysis on these risks and the degree to which cities and their urban residents are equipped to meet these challenges. Concepts of vulnerability and resilience provide a useful multi-scalar, multi-dimensional framework to examine these complex urbanization issues.

The report also builds on CKS’ December 2019 workshop on urban vulnerability, which gathered Cambodian and international academics, development professionals, policy-makers, and students to explore the concept of vulnerability as it relates to Cambodian cities. Supported by the Australian Government through The Asia Foundation’s Ponlok Chomnes Program, a virtual policy talk covering the themes and implications for future research with the authors was also held in November 2020 in collaboration with The Asia Foundation.

For more information, please click this link.