Book excerpt: The starting point of Planning through Projects is the diversity of historical, political, socio-economic and environmental factors that affect the urban realities of each city. The book shows how the shift from master planning to strategic planning through large urban projects is a worldwide process affecting all countries, and it highlights the impact that such large projects have on urban governance. A theoretical introduction is followed by 30 city cases, considering the socio-economic and environmental context, and the plans and strategies implemented: Beijing, Bilbao, Bogotá, Buenos Aires, Caracas, Córdoba, Daegu, Fukuoka, Glasgow, Hsinchu, La Plata, Liverpool, Lusaka, Mexico City, Montevideo, Ningbo, Panama, Paris, Pretoria, Rio de Janeiro, Rotterdam, Santiago, San Salvador, Sao Paulo, Singapore, Shanghai, Taipei, The Hague, Tokyo, and Valparaíso. The global scope, the combination of theory and practice, and the many examples, plans and illustrations make this book an excellent reference for teachers, students and professionals working in urban planning and management.