Recapturing Democracy: Neoliberalization and the Struggle for Alternative Urban Futures - Softcover

Purcell, Mark

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0415954355 ISBN 13: 9780415954358

Publisher: Routledge, 2008

Synopsis

Recapturing Democracy is a short yet synoptic introduction to urban democracy in our era of political neoliberalism and economic globalization. Combining an original argument with a number of case studies, Mark Purcell explores the condition of democracy in contemporary Western cities. Whereas many scholars focus on what Purcell calls "procedural democracy" – i.e., electoral politics and access to it – he instead assesses "substantive democracy." By this he means the people’s ability to have some say over issues of social justice, material well being, and economic equality. Neoliberalism, which advocates a diminished role for the state and increasing power for mobile capital, has diminished substantive democracy in recent times, he argues. He looks at case studies where this has occurred and at others that show how neoliberalism can be resisted in the name of substantive democracy. Ultimately, he utilizes Henri Lefebvre’s notion of "the right to the city," which encompasses substantive as well as procedural democracy for ordinary urban citizens.

About this title

About the Author

Mark Purcell is Associate Professor of Urban Design and Planning at the University of Washington. In addition to his work on urban politics and democracy, he has also published on state theory, the cultural politics of the academy, and the political-economy of scale.

Edition details

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication date: 2008
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0415954355
• ISBN 13: 9780415954358
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 224