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.
"If you are tired of being asphyxiated by sanctimonious
invocations of 'empowerment' and 'stakeholding, ' then you will
enjoy this provocative new study by Mark Purcell. With admirable
clarity, he exposes the screaming contradictions between
neoliberalism's rhetoric and reality, as well as pointing out the
brave (if meager) seeds of authentic democracy in our public life."
- Mike Davis, University of California-Irvine
"Mark Purcell's illuminating book reveals how neoliberalism is
transforming and corrupting urban spaces today. And for this
illness he prescribes democracy as cure, both analyzing what
democracy can mean today anddemonstrating how people are already
constructing democratic attitudes and democratizing movements in
our cities to combat neoliberalism." - Michael Hardt, Duke
University
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