The paper presents the hypothesis that urban form, especially that of a newly constructed city, reflects the social and political fabric of its time. In Cities in Civilization, Peter Hall states ‘urban order has always been much more than a physical order; it is also, even more importantly, a social and moral order.’ (Hall in Civilization: culture, innovation and urban order. Pantheon Books, New York, 1998) This is especially true in the case of capital city relocations, where incumbent governments find the opportunity to project their ideologies on a seemingly blank slate, to represent national identity on a global platform. Political and socio-economic agendas impact multiple aspects of the built environment, including public spaces, transport infrastructure, housing, residential, commercial zoning, etc., defining the very character of a city. The research explores two cases—Naypyidaw in Myanmar and Brasília in Brazil to elucidate this hypothesis. The paper attempts to investigate the structures of national governance in either case and the ideologies that translated to urban planning policies. It follows Hall’s argument to explore how innovators in question do not often concern themselves with the usage of the city or the lives of the urbanites affected by relocation. The study ultimately considers the differing perceptions of city performance by governments and residents, offering a nuanced understanding of the relationship between urban design and political power.