معرفی
Gavin Shatkin serves as Professor of Public Policy & Architecture and Director of the MS in Urban Planning and Policy at Northeastern University, holding a joint appointment between the College of Social Sciences and Humanities (75%) and the College of Arts, Media and Design (25%). His scholarship critically examines the political economies of urbanization in Asia, with emphasis on real estate dynamics, climate vulnerability, and infrastructure-driven displacement in rapidly growing metropolises.
His educational foundation includes a PhD in Urban Planning and Policy from Rutgers University, establishing the groundwork for his interdisciplinary approach to urban studies.
Shatkin's research program investigates how globalization reshapes urban landscapes in Asia through real estate speculation, climate-induced flooding, and contested infrastructure projects. He analyzes the political tensions between state actors, financial institutions, and vulnerable communities in cities like Jakarta and Manila, revealing how property rights regimes and disaster responses exacerbate social inequities. His work connects macro-level financial flows to micro-level community struggles, demonstrating architecture's role in both perpetuating and challenging urban injustices.
Recent publications (2019-2022) reveal a cohesive trajectory examining Southeast Asian megacities through intersecting lenses of political economy, climate adaptation, and spatial informality. These studies consistently highlight how financialization transforms urban governance while exposing marginalized populations to environmental hazards, with Jakarta serving as a critical case study across multiple projects.
His scholarly recognition includes:
- Honorable Mention for the 2018 Best Book in Urban Affairs Award
Shatkin leads an NSF-funded project on climate change-induced flooding impacts in Southeast Asian metropolises, examining political debates around urban planning and displacement. His collaborative research approach involves partnerships with scholars like T. Braswell and M. Martinus, often bridging urban policy, architecture, and geographic analysis to address complex resilience challenges. Current work emphasizes the dialectic between formal planning institutions and informal urban adaptations.
He contributes to Northeastern's Center for International Affairs and World Cultures and the Global Resilience Institute, integrating urban studies into broader frameworks of global governance and disaster response.
