Cities After Socialism: Urban and Regional Change and Conflict in Post-Socialist Societies (Studies in Urban and Social Change)

Cities After Socialism is the first substantial and authoritative analysis of the role of cities in the transition to capitalism that is occurring in the former communist states of Easter Europe and the Soviet Union. It will be of equal value to urban specialists and to those who have a more general interest in the most dramatic socio-political event of the contemporary era - the collapse of state socialism. Written by an international group of leading experts in the field, Cities after socialism asks and answers some crucial questions about the nature of the emergent post-socialist urban system and the conflicts and inequalities which are being generated by the processes of change now occurring.

the Dramatic Collapse Of State Socialism In Eastern Europe And The Soviet Union And The Emergence Of New Political, Social And Economic Structures Has Had A Profound Impact On Every Aspect Of These Societies. This Volume - The First Significant Analysis Of Its Kind - Brings Together Leading European And American Commentators Who Examine The Impact Of This Social Revolution Of Cities And Urban Life. And Because Cities And The Process Of Urbanization Play Central Roles In Shaping The Wider Processes Of Change Now Occurring, This Book Will Be Essential Reading For All Those Who Claim More Than A Passing Interest In The Transition From State Socialism To Capitalism And The Far-reaching Implications Of This Process.

at The Heart Of This Book Lie Several Crucial Questions: What Were Socialist Cities And What Is Succeeding Them? What Is The Legacy Of The Old System For The New One? What Are The Dynamics Of This Transition? Are These Remade Cities Similar In Most Respects To Those In The Advanced Capitalist World? Or Are They More Like The Peripheral Capitalist Cities Of The Third World, Or Some Hybrid Or New Form? How Diverse Are The Processes Of Transition In The Different National Urban Systems? Is Urbanization Best Understood As A Functional Consequence Of Advanced Industrial Societies, Rather Than Of Capitalism Or Socialism? What Role Are The Doctrines Of Neo-liberalism, Imported From The West, Playing In The Remaking Of Urban Societies And Policies And What Are The Consequences Of This Policy Recipe? These Are Some Of The Fascinating And Pressing Questions Addressed In cities After Socialism.

The dramatic collapse of state socialism in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union and the emergence of new political, social and economic structures has had a profound impact on every aspect of these societies. This volume - the first significant analysis of its kind - brings together leading European and American commentators who examine the impact of this social revolution of cities and urban life. And because cities and the process of urbanization play central roles in shaping the wider processes of change now occurring, this book will be essential reading for all those who claim more than a passing interest in the transition from state socialism to capitalism and the far-reaching implications of this process. At the heart of this book lie several crucial questions: What were socialist cities and what is succeeding them? What is the legacy of the old system for the new one? What are the dynamics of this transition? Are these remade cities similar in most respects to those in the 'advanced' capitalist world? Or are they more like the peripheral capitalist cities of the Third World, or some hybrid or new form? How diverse are the processes of transition in the different national urban systems? Is urbanization best understood as a functional consequence of advanced industrial societies, rather than of capitalism or socialism? What role are the doctrines of neo-liberalism, imported from the West, playing in the remaking of urban societies and policies, and what are the consequences of this policy 'recipe'? These are some of the fascinating and pressing questions addressed in Cities after Socialism. Cities After Socialism: Urban and Regional Change and Conflict in Post-Socialist Socities......Page 6 Contents......Page 10 List of Contributors......Page 12 Preface......Page 14 1 Cities in the Transition......Page 16 2 Structural Change and Boundary Instability......Page 45 3 The Socialist City......Page 85 4 Urbanization under Socialism......Page 115 5 Privatization and its Discontents: Property Rights in Land and Housing in the Transition in Eastern Europe......Page 134 6 Housing Privatization in the Former Soviet Bloc to 1995......Page 207 7 From the Socialist to the Capitalist City: Experiences from Germany......Page 229 8 Environmental and Housing Movements in Cities after Socialism: The Cases of Budapest and Moscow......Page 247 9 A New Movement in an Ideological Vacuum: Nationalism in Eastern Europe......Page 283 10 Cities under Socialism–and After......Page 301 Bibliography......Page 333 Index......Page 351 Writing about the February Revolution in Russia, precursor to the October Revolution that swept the Bolsheviks to power, Trotsky (1967/1932-3: 141-5) highlighted the leadership role played by the Petrograd workers and the crucial importance of political developments in the capital city. * The first significant analysis of "Post-Socialist" Cities and their role in the more general transition. * Brings together new contributions from leading commentators in the field - drawn from Europe and America.