City of Shadows: Slums and Informal Work in Bangalore

The book explores the persistence of urban poverty in Bangalore, India, highlighting the intergenerational ties of the urban poor to traditional low-paying occupations and their incorporation into new urban growth channels under unfavorable terms and conditions. It problematizes informality's complex relationship to contemporary theories of class and uses debates on the political agency of the urban poor to explore channels of inclusion and exclusion.

Format: Hardback
Length: 200 pages
Publication date: 07 October 2021
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Urban poverty has become a significant academic and policy concern globally, alongside debates over rising inequalities. Policy positions on urban poverty often revolve around providing basic services and welfare. In the context of Bangalore's transformation into India's silicon valley, this book presents research that spans old inner-city slums, new migrant settlements in urban peripheries, slum development projects, and garment export and construction workers. The findings highlight that intergenerationally, the urban poor remain tied to traditional low-paying occupations or are incorporated into new urban growth channels (export industries, low-end services) under unfavorable terms and conditions.

To explore channels of inclusion and exclusion, the book employs the concepts of the old and the new poor to examine the complex relationship between informality and contemporary theories of class. It emphasizes that the vulnerabilities of the poor are shaped by different regimes of informality, challenging the notion of a uniform and universal experience of poverty.

Debates on the political agency of the urban poor are used to problematize informality's intricate relationship to contemporary theories of class. The book sheds light on the diverse ways in which the urban poor navigate and negotiate their circumstances, highlighting the need for policies that address their specific needs and challenges.

Overall, this book provides valuable insights into the dynamics of urban poverty and its relationship to broader social and economic structures. It contributes to the ongoing discussions on urban development, inequality, and social policy in India and beyond.

Weight: 458g
Dimension: 161 x 238 x 24 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781108839365