Politics of Urban Knowledge: Historical Perspectives on the Shaping and Governing of Cities

This book explores how professionals, administrators, scholars, and social movements have surveyed, evaluated, and theorized the city, identified problems, and shaped and legitimized practical interventions in planning and administration through the politics of urban knowledge. It demonstrates that urban knowledge is not neutral but the outcome of historically contingent processes and practices of urban actors addressing urban issues and power relations. It is of interest to scholars and students in urban history, urban studies, technology, science, and knowledge studies.

Format: Hardback
Length: 276 pages
Publication date: 23 March 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Urbanization has been a significant phenomenon in human history, accompanied by the formation of the city as a distinct domain of knowledge. This volume employs the politics of urban knowledge as a lens to explore a novel perspective on urban history and urban planning history. Through case studies primarily from the 19th and 20th centuries, the book demonstrates that urban knowledge is not merely a neutral tool for representing cities as pre-existing entities but rather the product of historically contingent processes and practices by urban actors addressing urban issues and the power relations within which they are embedded. It reveals how urban knowledge-making has reshaped the categories, rationales, and techniques employed in the production, governance, and contestation of urban spaces, as well as how the knowledge associated with these spaces has become performative of newly emerging urban orders.

This volume holds significant appeal to scholars and students in the fields of urban history, urban studies, the history of technology, science, and knowledge, as well as science studies. It offers valuable insights into the complex dynamics of urbanization, knowledge production, and power relations, contributing to our understanding of cities and their development over time.

The politics of urban knowledge provide a valuable framework for analyzing the ways in which professionals, administrations, scholars, and social movements have surveyed, evaluated, and theorized the city, identified problems, and shaped and legitimized practical interventions in planning and administration. By examining the historical development of urban knowledge, this volume sheds light on the complex processes and power dynamics that have shaped urban spaces and the institutions that govern them.

One of the key insights of the book is that urban knowledge is not a static entity but rather the outcome of a dynamic and contested process. Urban actors, including professionals, administrators, scholars, and social movements, engage in a continuous process of knowledge production and dissemination, which is shaped by their own experiences, perspectives, and interests. This knowledge production is not neutral but rather is embedded in power relations and social structures, and it can be used to justify or challenge existing urban policies and practices.

The book also highlights the role of technology, science, and knowledge in the production and dissemination of urban knowledge. The rise
advancements in transportation, communication, and information technology have facilitated the rapid spread of urban knowledge and have enabled urban actors to engage with each other more effectively and to access a wider range of information and resources. However, these technologies have also created new challenges and opportunities for urban governance and planning, as they have enabled the emergence of new forms of urban governance and planning that are more decentralized, participatory, and responsive to the needs of urban residents.

In conclusion, the politics of urban knowledge provides a rich and nuanced understanding of the ways in which professionals, administrations, scholars, and social movements. movements have surveyed, evaluated, and theorized the city, identified problems, and shaped and legitimized practical interventions in planning and administration. By examining the historical development of urban knowledge, this volume sheds light on the complex processes and power dynamics that have shaped urban spaces and the institutions that govern them. It also highlights the role of technology, science, and knowledge in the production and dissemination of urban knowledge and the challenges and opportunities that these technologies have created for urban governance and planning. This book is a valuable resource for scholars and students in the fields of urban history, urban studies, the history of technology, science, and knowledge, as well as science studies.

Weight: 522g
Dimension: 157 x 235 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032320533