Understanding Kuala Lumpur and the Forces That Shaped It

Reluctant Capital: Essays on Kuala Lumpur is a new book which explores how KL and the Klang Valley has grown into a modern capital while grappling with deep social, political, and economic tensions. Through a series of essays combining urban theory with on-the-ground research, author Badrul Hisham Ismail examines how neoliberalism, government-controlled development and Malaysia's ethnic politics have shaped the city's landscape and who benefits from it.In this episode, we speak to Badrul about this book. We’re discuss a whole host of things including shopping malls, gated communities and the indigenous population that was here before most of us.You can purchase Reluctant Capital: Essays on Kuala Lumpur by clicking here. Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.