Rescaling Urban Poverty: Homelessness, State Restructuring and City Politics in Japan

In Rescaling Urban Poverty, Mahito Hayashi examines the rescaled geographies of homelessness in contemporary Japanese cities, combining regulationist political economy and place-based research to provide new theoretical perspectives on emergent forms of urban marginality and their contestation.

Format: Unspecified
Length: 336 pages
Publication date: 16 November 2023
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons Inc

Mahito Hayashi's groundbreaking book delves into the rescaled geographies of homelessness in contemporary Japanese cities, offering a fresh perspective through a unique synthesis of regulationist political economy and immersive place-based research. By situating urban homelessness in Japan within comparative-international contexts, Hayashi provides valuable insights into emergent forms of urban marginality and their contestation.

The book offers a rich tapestry of theoretical perspectives, empowering readers to decipher the complexities of urban marginality and the struggles faced by unhoused individuals. Drawing from a diverse range of sources, including political economy, sociology, and geography, Hayashi crafts a comprehensive analysis that sheds light on the shifting spatial strategies employed by unhoused people as they create spaces of emancipation within Japanese cities.

Rescaling Urban Poverty stands out as a unique and valuable contribution to the study of the geographies of urban social movements. Through meticulous attention to the complexities of contentious class politics and livelihoods barely sustained by survival economies, Hayashi unravels the oppressive effects of state rescaling and its limitations in the interplay of the state, domiciled society, public space, urban class relations, social movements, and capitalism.

Employing ethnography as a re-ontologising medium of critical theorisation, the book delves into the radical geographies of placemaking, commoning, and translation that can create prohomeless urban spaces. By exploring the lived experiences of homeless people and their communities, Hayashi offers rich context-based and field-based arguments about social movements, poverty, housing policy, and public space formation in Japan.

Through its comprehensive exploration, Rescaling Urban Poverty sheds light on the hidden dynamics of state rescaling and its impact on the lives of homeless people. It challenges readers to consider the broader societal implications of rescaling and advocates for policies that prioritize the rights and dignity of all individuals, regardless of their housing status.

In conclusion, Mahito Hayashi's Rescaling Urban Poverty is a groundbreaking work that offers a fresh perspective on the geographies of homelessness in contemporary Japanese cities. Through a rigorous analysis and a commitment to social justice, Hayashi provides valuable insights into the struggles faced by unhoused individuals and challenges readers to consider the broader societal implications of state rescaling. This book is a must-read for scholars, policymakers, and anyone interested in understanding the complexities of urban marginality and the potential for transformative change.

Weight: 658g
Dimension: 158 x 239 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781119690979