In recent years, the Asia-Pacific region has become home to a majority urban population. The rapid growth of Asian cities has created new challenges in terms of housing, environmental sustainability, and infrastructure development. This course investigates the social, political, environmental, economic, and technological transformations in densely-populated urban centers, with a particular focus on East and Southeast Asia. Taking the city as a unit of analysis, the course asks, in what ways do cities function beyond the nation state? What forms of regional and transnational exchange emerge out of urban networks? How do cities confront the challenges of urban life, particularly with regards to climate change, infrastructure repair, gentrification, and social inequality? Starting with an examination of Asian cities, including their form and governance, the course continues with a comparative study of urban life, focusing on the role of various urban actors, such as local officials, activists, artists, laborers, pedestrians, and engineers, in the creation of livable cities. Students will develop an understanding of the unique features and challenges of urbanization and urban life in twenty-first century Asia. Course texts will draw from anthropology, Asian studies, environmental studies, geography, history, and urban planning.