Postsocialist Shrinking Cities

This book provides a comparative analysis of shrinking cities in postsocialist countries in the Global East, offering new perspectives on urban shrinkage and identifying commonalities and differences across a diverse region. It will be of interest to students and scholars in urban studies and related fields.

Format: Hardback
Length: 392 pages
Publication date: 21 April 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Shrinking cities have garnered significant scholarly attention in recent decades, particularly in the Global North. However, there has been a relative lack of research on urban shrinkage in the Global East, a transitional region between North and South. This volume seeks to bridge this gap by presenting a comprehensive comparative analysis of shrinking cities across a diverse range of postsocialist countries in the Global East.

The book explores the commonalities, differences, and policy experiences associated with urban shrinkage in this region, which encompasses countries such as China, Russia, and postsocialist Europe. It brings together leading experts in the field, providing insider perspectives that contribute to decolonizing urban theory.

Chapter 1 provides an overview of the theoretical and empirical literature on urban shrinkage, highlighting the dominant focus on the Global North. Chapter 2 explores the historical and political contexts that have contributed to urban shrinkage in the Global East, including factors such as economic decline, political instability, and migration patterns.

Chapter 3 examines the spatial and demographic characteristics of shrinking cities in the Global East, including population decline, urban sprawl, and the concentration of poverty and social exclusion. Chapter 4 discusses the policy responses to urban shrinkage in the Global East, including urban regeneration, land use planning, and social welfare programs.

Chapter 5 presents comparative discussions within countries and cross-national cases on theoretical and policy implications of urban shrinkage. The book concludes by highlighting the challenges and opportunities associated with shrinking cities in the Global East and suggesting potential avenues for future research and policy interventions.

This book will be of interest to students and scholars researching urban studies, urban geography, urban planning, urban politics and policy, urban sociology, and urban development. It provides a valuable contribution to our understanding of urban transformations in the Global East and offers insights into the complex dynamics that shape these cities.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367415235