Grammars of the Urban Ground

Grammars of the Urban Ground provide a new conceptual framework and vocabulary for capturing the complex, ever-shifting, and interactive processes that shape contemporary cities. It builds on Marxist, feminist, queer, and critical race theory and the ontological turn in urban studies to offer a mode of analysis that resists siloed categories and examines the infrastructures of plutocratic life, reconfigures gentrification as a process of racial banishment, and presents case studies of city life in the margins and peripheries of São Paulo, Kinshasa, Nairobi, and Jakarta.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 264 pages
Publication date: 24 June 2022
Publisher: Duke University Press

The contributors to "Grammars of the Urban Ground" develop a groundbreaking conceptual framework and vocabulary to capture the intricate, ever-evolving, and interactive processes that shape contemporary cities. Drawing upon Marxist, feminist, queer, and critical race theory, as well as the ontological turn in urban studies, they propose a mode of analysis that challenges the traditional categorization of urban phenomena into siloed domains such as "economy," "society," and "politics."

In addition to delving into fundamental concepts of urban studies, such as dispossession and scale, the contributors examine the infrastructures of plutocratic life in London, redefine notions of gentrification as a process of racial banishment, and explore alternative archives for knowledge about urban density. Through case studies of city life in the margins and peripheries of São Paulo, Kinshasa, Nairobi, and Jakarta, they provide a foundation for a deeper understanding of the connective and aggregative forces of city-making, as well as the entanglements and relations that constitute cities and their everyday politics.

This innovative approach to urban analysis offers a valuable contribution to the field, challenging scholars and policymakers to approach cities with a more holistic and interdisciplinary perspective. By transcending traditional boundaries and embracing a multi-dimensional understanding of urban processes, "Grammars of the Urban Ground" provides a rich resource for scholars, activists, and policymakers seeking to navigate the complex and rapidly changing urban landscape.

Weight: 386g
Dimension: 153 x 228 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781478018339