The concepts of community consultation and participation have come to dominate academic and policy debate about urban regeneration partnerships. However, there has been relatively little discussion about the nature of 'community power' within regeneration partnerships. Adopting an ethnographic approach in the study of community participation and power and the significance of 'race' in three ethnically diverse neighbourhoods in London, this book highlights that there has been a 'pluralistic turn' in British urban regeneration policy. Local communities, often portrayed as the least powerful partner within partnerships, are shown to use various strategies to influence decision-making, thus giving rise to a new typology of pluralism - 'pragmatic'; 'hyper-' and 'paternalistic'. Furthermore, the significance of 'race' (and racism) within community forums and regeneration partnerships is challenged. The playful use of the term (In) Significance in the title is linked to the argument that, although racism exists, 'race' does not always matter.

Disruptive Urbanism examines how different forms and modes of the so called "sharing economy" are manifesting in cities and regions throughout the world, and how policy makers are responding to these disruptions. The emergence of the so called "sharing economy" and the "disruptive technologies" have profound implications for urban policy and governance. Initial expectations that "sharing" of homes, offices or vehicles could solve urban problems such as congestion or housing affordability have given way to concerns over job precarity, neighbourhood transformation, and the growing power of platforms in disrupting urban governance and regulation. Contributors to this volume canvas these issues, examining how the "sharing economy" is manifesting in urban areas, the implications of this for urban living, and how policy makers are responding to these changes. Implications for urban research, policy, and practice are highlighted through chapters which address forms of urban "sharing" across housing, transport, work, and food and wider processes of globalisation and neoliberalism as they disrupt cities and urban policy making. Disruptive Urbanism will be of great interest to scholars of urban planning, urban governance, the sharing economy, and housing studies. The chapters were originally published as a special issue of Urban Policy and Research.

The concepts of community consultation and participation have come to dominate academic and policy debate about urban regeneration partnerships. However, there has been relatively little discussion about the nature of 'community power' within regeneration partnerships. Adopting an ethnographic approach in the study of community participation and power and the significance of 'race' in three ethnically diverse neighbourhoods in London, this book highlights that there has been a 'pluralistic turn' in British urban regeneration policy. Local communities, often portrayed as the least powerful partner within partnerships, are shown to use various strategies to influence decision-making, thus giving rise to a new typology of pluralism - 'pragmatic'; 'hyper-' and 'paternalistic'. Furthermore, the significance of 'race' (and racism) within community forums and regeneration partnerships is challenged. The playful use of the term (In) Significance in the title is linked to the argument that, although racism exists, 'race' does not always matter.

This new volume provides a theoretical and empirical perspective on the value, potential and contribution that qualitative research methodologies bring to the analysis of housing policy issues within an international context. This encompasses key housing issues, including: the meaning and significance of home; homelessness; resident participation; housing renewal and gentrification; socially mixed housing communities; Irish Gypsies; and post-apartheid housing policies. The book also includes discussion of specific methodological challenges and ethical dilemmas faced by researchers (and policy-makers). The book's core strength lies in its ability to showcase the versatility and practical application of qualitative research in housing studies.

Urban environments in the 21st Century are faced with unprecedented challenges. Globalisation, terrorism/securitisation, fundamentalism/Islamaphobia, demographic shifts and environmental damage all pose profound threats to the urban condition and experience. These meta-challenges invariably raise serious dilemmas for policy makers and practitioners who must increasingly look to researchers for answers to these complex, and at times, overwhelmingly perplexing questions. This book provides a way forward by advocating a 'pragmatic renaissance' within qualitative research - a systematic approach to conducting qualitative research and representing the findings. The editors argue that this approach is essential if we are to develop nuanced and deep levels of understanding of the impacts of these challenges to contemporary urban life. This systematic approach is reflected throughout the book which is divided into two sections - Part One: On Theory and Method; and Part Two: Understanding Key Urban Issues. Individual chapters showcase the utility of qualitative research by providing theoretical, methodological and empirical insights into real life research. Authors draw on research conducted in Australia, England, Ireland, New Zealand, and Sri Lanka and consider issues relating to: the use of social constructionism to understand policy processes and actors; issues and dilemmas in conducting fieldwork, the need for more longitudinal qualitative research; the comparative advantage of qualitative methods in urban policy evaluations; understanding the immigrant settlement experience; dealing with sex workers; ageing in place; and doing action research with Australian Aboriginals. This book will be of interest and use to a wide range of researchers and students in urban planning, housing studies, urban sociology, urban geography, anthropology and community development. In addition, given the applied dimension of the volume, it will have appeal for urban policy makers at the local and strategic level.