In this chapter, we discuss the emerging features of urbanisation in two BRICS countries (Russia and South Africa) by bringing together the different meanings of the concept of emergence in development economics and in complexity science. The objective of this cross-investigation is to identify the features of urban theories which only apply to the first industrialised countries (but do not apply to emerging powers such as the BRICS countries) and to identify the emerging patterns of growth and structure in urban systems deemed as extreme: e.g. the former Soviet Union and South Africa.@en