Final answer:
Rapid urbanization in Southeast Asia creates infrastructure burdens, widening disparities, and increases political tension. Overpopulated cities face natural disaster risks, and the rural-to-urban shift strains resources and worsens environmental issues. Poverty, resource control conflicts, and environmental racism are prevalent challenges.
Step-by-step explanation:
Rapid urbanization in Southeast Asia puts too much burden on infrastructure and services in cities. This leads to increasing disparities among rich and poor and can lead to political conflict. Overpopulated areas also suffer greater risks in the event of natural disasters.
Poverty in the region results in a lack of opportunities and advantages, such as connections to global markets due to the absence of an international port. The political system often suffers from corruption and instability. There is a significant gap between social elites and the majority of the population.
Rural-to-urban shift is particularly high in South Asia, which continues to fuel urban center expansion. Urbanization introduces challenges like traffic congestion, overcrowded schools, racial tensions, and a widening economic divide, exacerbated by escalating living costs and stagnant wages.
The rapid population growth in these areas challenges economic systems and depletes natural resources at an unsustainable rate. Environmental concerns are also paramount, with pollution affecting soil, water, and air quality, impacting health across the food chain. Often, underprivileged neighborhoods and nations bear the greater burden of environmental degradation, a situation described as environmental racism.