Urban Geopolitics: Rethinking Planning in Contested Cities (Routledge Studies in Urbanism and the City)

In the last decade a new wave of urban research has emerged, putting comparative perspectives back on the urban studies agenda. However, this research is frequently based on similar case studies on a few selected cities in America and Europe and all too often focus on the abstract city level with marginal attention given to particular local contexts. Moving away from loosely defined urban theories and contexts, this book argues it is time to start learning from and compare across different ‘contested cities’. It questions the long-standing Euro-centric academic knowledge production that is prevalent in urban studies and planning research. This book brings together a diverse range of international case studies from Latin America, South and South East Asia, Eastern Europe, Africa and the Middle East to offer an in-depth understanding of the worldwide contested nature of cities in a wide range of local contexts. It suggests an urban ontology that moves beyond the urban ‘West’ and ‘North’ as well as adding a comparative-relational understanding of the contested nature that ‘Southern’ cities are developing. This timely contribution is essential reading for those working in the fields of human geography, urban studies, planning, politics, area studies and sociology. Cover -- Half Title -- Title Page -- Copyright Page -- Table of Contents -- List of illustrations -- Notes on contributors -- Acknowledgements -- Foreword -- Introduction: towards contested urban geopolitics on a global scale -- Part I Comparative urban geopolitics -- Part introduction -- 1 Post-war reconstruction in contested cities: comparing urban outcomes in Sarajevo and Beirut -- 2 Negotiating cities: Nairobi and Cape Town -- 3 Ordinary urban geopolitics: contrasting Jerusalem and Stockholm -- Part II Urban geopolitics: South and South East Asia -- Part introduction -- 4 The tale of ethno-political and spatial claims in a contested city: the Muhajir community in Karachi -- 5 The practice of 'marketplace coordination' in Jakarta (1977-98) -- 6 The politics of doing nothing: a rethinking of the culture of poverty in Khulna c. 1882-1990 -- Part III Urban geopolitics: Middle East and North Africa -- Part introduction -- 7 The camp vs the campus: the geopolitics of urban thresholds in Famagusta, Northern Cyprus -- 8 Urban planning, religious voices and ethnicity in the contested city of Acre: the Lababidi mosque explored -- 9 Exploring the roots of contested public spaces of Cairo: theorizing structural shifts and increased complexity -- Part IV Urban geopolitics: Latin America -- Part introduction -- 10 Unpacking narratives of social conflict and inclusion: anti-gentrification neighbourhood organization in Santiago, Chile -- 11 The Medellín's shifting geopolitics of informality: the Encircled Garden as a dispositive of civil disenfranchisement? -- 12 Assessing critical urban geopolitics in Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil -- Part V Comparative discussion -- Part introduction -- 13 Geopolitics, cosmopolitanism and planning: contested cities in a global context -- Afterword: lineages of urban geopolitics -- Index In The Last Decade A New Wave Of Urban Research Has Emerged, Putting Comparative Perspectives Back On The Urban Studies Agenda. However, This Research Is Frequently Based On Similar Case Studies, On A Few Selected Cities In America And Europe, And All Too Often Focus On The Abstract City Level With Marginal Attention Given To Particular Local Contexts. Moving Away From Loosely Defined Urban Theories And Contexts, This Book Argues That It Is Timely To Start Learning From, And Compare Across Different Contested Cities. It Questions Urban Studies And Planning Research Long Standing Euro-centric Academic Knowledge Production, Methodological Regionalism And Incommensurability. It Brings Together A Diverse Range Of International Case Studies From Latin America, South And South East Asia, Eastern Europe, Africa And The Middle East To Offer An In-depth Understating Of The Worldwide Contested Nature Of Cities With A Detailed Review From A Wide Range Of Local Contexts. It Suggests An Urban Ontology That Moves Beyond The Urban 'west' And 'north' As Well As Adding A Comparative-relational Understanding Of The Contested Nature That 'southern' Cities Are Developing. This Timely Contribution Is Essential Reading For Those Working In The Fields Of Human Geography, Urban Studies, Planning, Politics, Area Studies And Sociology.