The Shaping of Urban Design: Western History, Intercultural Future provides a comprehensive history of the development of modern urban design ideas across Europe and America and discusses their impact upon different settings across the world. With a particular focus on Australia, Shelton delves into the effects of these ideas in colonial settings with no previous urban past. Non-western cultures are also explored to understand the in-built resistance in large cities with different spatial values. Shelton pulls together the discussion to reflect upon the achievements of Western urban ideas in the face of their continuing dominance and pervasiveness.