| Synopsis: |
The Handbook on Spaces of Urban Politics provides a comprehensive statement and reference point for urban politics. The scope of this Handbook's coverage and contributions engages with and reflects upon the most important, innovative and recent critical developments to the inter-disciplinary field of urban politics, drawing upon a range of examples from within and across the Global North and Global South.This Handbook is organized into nine inter-related sections, with an introductory chapter setting out the rationale, aims and structure of the Handbook, and short introductory commentaries at the beginning of each section. Section one explores the various "spaces" of urban politics. These are not limited to those inside the city, but rather occur at the downtown/neighbourhood and suburban scales, as well as the national and international scales. Section two examines the issues related to the urban politics of economic development. They will include an analysis and discussion of issues such as business climates, creative strategies, growth coalitions, inward investment and mega-projects. Section three analyses the issues related to the politics of environment and nature in the city. These include adaptation, building retro-fitting, climate change, the low-carbon economy, and sustainability. Section four explores issues related to the politics of governance and planning. These include informality, housing, informality, infrastructure, land-use, zoning, partnership formation, squatting and transport. Section five examines issues related to the politics of labour in the city. These include living wages, labour control, social reproduction, the home, unions and work-life balance. Section six analyses issues related to the politics of living and the living place. These include education, food, gentrification, home, infrastructure, public space, retail, social reproduction, transport and water supply. Section seven explores the spaces of circulation in and of the city. These include capital, finance, people, policies and transport. Section eight examines the politics over alternative visions of cities of the future. Section nine provides concluding discussions and reflections, particularly on the futures for urban politics in an increasingly "global" and multidisciplinary intellectual context.With over forty five contributions from leading international scholars in the field, this Handbook provides critical reviews and appraisals of current state-of-the-art conceptual and theoretical approaches and future developments in urban politics. ? |