Metro Manila im Brennpunkt sozialer Disparitäten und globaler Perspektiven

The goal of this paper is a review of current aspects of megacity development within the Philippine National Capital Region (NCR), whose present status is due to its colonial history, (post)feudal hierarchies and global impact. After a general discussion of causes and consequences of national urbanization, focus is put on the specific situation of Metro Manila (NCR), whose primacy is analyzed with regard to its social, ecological and economic impact on metropolitan life. The ambivalence of economic liberalization, which often lacks any social backup, is bound to widen the socioeconomic gap between urban rich and poor and will sharpen Metro Manila's dependence on a small number of 'Global Players'.