Sustainable Urbanism and Direct Action: Case Studies in Dialectical Activism

Urban activism takes many forms, and this book explores the evidence of collisions between social forces in our streets and public commons. It draws on the authors' experience as an activist to make links between theory and practice, with rich discussion of the histories of conflicts over public space. Each chapter examines activist responses to various issues, shaping the cases through multiple data sources, including the authors' own voice, interviews, historic accounts, and theoretical discussion. The book highlights a story of urban public space movements and their impact on cities.

Format: Hardback
Length: 286 pages
Publication date: 02 June 2021
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield International

Urban activism takes many forms, from community gardening to mass naked bike rides, and it plays a crucial role in shaping our cities. However, how can we theorize the evidence of the collisions between social forces that take place in our streets and public commons? Cities are formed through these collective collisions in time, and this book draws on the authors' own vast experience as an activist to make links between a theory of practice with rich discussion of the histories of conflicts over public space. Each chapter examines activist responses to a range of issues that have confronted New Yorkers, from the struggle for green space and non-polluting transportation to housing and the fight for sexual civil liberties. The cases are shaped through interplay between multiple data sources, including the authors' own voice as an observing participant, interviews with other participant activists, historic accounts, and theoretical discussion. Taken together, these highlight a story of urban public space movements and the ways they shape cities and are shaped by history.

Weight: 564g
Dimension: 158 x 237 x 24 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781783483150