A Change of Guard

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Sunday 10 March 2013

Embracing the Challenges of Urbanization

William e todd
By William E. Todd, U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of Cambodia 
The city of Phnom Penh is changing very rapidly.  Sometimes I feel that whenever I blink, a new coffee shop opens its doors in my neighborhood.  When I walk down a street I have not visited in a month, there always seems to be a new apartment building going up where a house used to be.  As more people migrate from the provinces to Phnom Penh, the city faces enormous challenges to keep up with the growing population.  Essential infrastructure like sewers, roads, and housing will need upgrades and expansion.  Access to education and public health services will be vital.  As with any rapidly growing city, Phnom Penh’s success and viability will be measured by how it meets these challenges and serves the needs of its citizens.

In a recent blog, I wrote about the remarkable changes in Phnom Penh’s skyline and the unintended consequences of urban development.  I received several responses, with one reader asking, “What are the benefits of cities in light of all these challenges?”  To answer this question, I’d like to draw upon the experiences of U.S. cities and how they managed to overcome hardships and create new opportunities.

Over 100 years ago, the United States underwent a period of explosive growth and rapid urbanization.  Immigrants from around the world moved to America seeking a better life.  The country’s population increased almost 200 percent in 50 years, from 38 million in 1870 to 106 million by 1920.  In the same time period, the number of Americans living in cities grew from 10 million to 54 million.  During these years of rapid population growth and urbanization, the living conditions in New York City, for example, decayed, housing became unaffordable, crime increased, and the city became a harder place to live in.  Social tensions rose and conflict erupted.

Despite the many challenges associated with urbanization, however, enormous opportunities also exist.  Bringing so many people together in one location creates the conditions for creativity, innovation, and economic development to flourish.  Instead of being unconnected in remote villages, many people living in close proximity allows for the rapid exchange of ideas and sharing of wisdom and experience.  The innovation and change that are a natural byproduct of bringing together diverse communities, cultures, and ideas are key reasons why the United States has prospered.


In essence, cities create centers of excellence where human interaction and learning foster greater creativity.  Silicon Valley and Hollywood are perfect examples:  one location is developing innovative technology driving the global economy and the other is producing television shows and films that entertain billions around the world.  Cities are incubators of innovation where a critical mass of people live, work, and play.  The challenges are finding ways to meet the needs of the people, but the rewards are significant, with cities being the leading economic growth engines of the 21st century.  For example, the gross domestic product (GDP) of New York City alone is larger than that of many developing countries, but the people of New York don’t mine iron ore, grow rice, or drill for oil.  New York generates income through the creativity and imagination of its residents.  This is the potential of urbanization.

So what does the future hold for Phnom Penh?  How will the city deal with waste disposal, road congestion, air quality, and unaffordable housing?  The city’s plan to develop a public transit system is a good start in navigating these challenges to achieve a higher quality of life and a livable environment.   Ultimately, the remaining answers will have to come collectively from the city’s residents and officials.

Citizen participation in local governance is critical.  A city is a representation of the dreams, aspirations, and values of its people manifested in steel, concrete, and greenery.  The city reflects where the people came from, where they are now, and where they want to go in the future.  Phnom Penh can represent to the world who Cambodians are and what they want to contribute to humanity.  Just as no other city can be New York, Phnom Penh will always be unique in expressing the values of Cambodians.

The work of famed Cambodian architect Vann Molyvann is a perfect example of using Cambodian solutions to create a vibrant city.  As the designer of the National Sports Complex, the Bassac Development, and the Independence Monument, Molyvann created a unique building style known as “New Khmer Architecture,” which incorporated such innovations as evaporative cooling, double roofs, indirect lighting, cross ventilation, and the use of local materials.  Since most of Molyvann’s world-class structures are now 50-60 years old, many are at risk due to lack of maintenance and redevelopment.  In response, a group of American and Cambodian architects set up a foundation to help preserve the remaining examples of this unique architectural style.  The responsibility now rests with the people of Cambodia to decide how they wish to use their capital city to present their values, traditions, and culture to themselves and to the world.  As a proud, imaginative, and creative people, Cambodians, I know, are up to the challenge.

As Cambodia continues to grow its economy and transition to a modern, prosperous country, I have no doubt that Phnom Penh will play an even greater role in Cambodia’s future.  With the residents of Phnom Penh learning from and interacting with each other on a daily basis, they are creating the conditions for creativity, innovation, and economic development to flourish.

Thank you very much for reading my column this week.  Please tell me what you think about this piece.  You may send your comments and questions to me in English or Khmer at AskAMBToddPP@state.gov.  Also, don’t forget to follow my blog at http://blogs.usembassy.gov/todd/.

William E. Todd is U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of Cambodia

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