Space, the City and Social Theory: Social Relations and Urban Forms

by Fran Tonkiss

Space, the City and Social Theory offers a clear and critical account of key approaches to cities and urban space within social theory and analysis. It explores the relation of the social and the spatial in the context of critical urban community and anonymity; social difference and spatial divisions; politics and public space; gentrification and urban renewal; gender and sexuality; subjectivity and space; experience and everyday practice in the city. The text adopts an international and interdisciplinary approach, drawing on a range of debates on cities and urban life. It brings together classic perspectives in urban sociology and social theory with the analysis of contemporary urban problems and issues. Rather than viewing the urban simply as a backdrop for more general social processes, the discussion looks at how social and spatial relations shape different versions of the as a place of social interaction and of solitude; as a site of difference and segregation; as a space of politics and power; as a landscape of economic and cultural distinction; as a realm of everyday experience and freedom. Similarly, it examines how core social categories - such as class, culture, gender, sexuality and community - are shaped and reproduced in urban contexts. Linking debates in urban studies to wider concerns within social theory and analysis, this accessible text will appeal to undergraduate and postgraduate students in urban sociology, social and cultural geography, urban and cultural studies.

176 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2005

Reviews

[Kristina Gibson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really clear overview of major urban social theory - I learn something new every time I re-read this book, which is about every other semester at this point...

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a great little overview of contemporary urban theory, though the the text is dense. I really liked the section on public space, and found the sections on de Certeau, Barthes and Benjamin really interesting, though I am always unsure about writers who try to use Benjamin...no that I in any way deny his brilliance because he is one of my favourites, but I am always slightly puzzled by attempts to fold him into the theoretical cannon, and worry about a thousand little priveleged flaneures and flaneuses trying to score academic cred. I would have given it a four, but while she tries to deal with a history of racism and segregation, I don't know that it was enough and found the sections on that read somewhat glibly, particularly the rather offhand criticism of the Chicago school.