This book analyses the waves of protests, from spontaneous uprisings to well-organized forms of collective action, which have shaken European cities over the last decade. It shows how analysing these protests in connection with the structural context of neoliberal urbanism and its crises is more productive than standard explanations. Processes of neoliberalisation have caused deeply segregated urban landscapes defined by deepening social inequality, rising unemployment, racism, securitization of urban spaces and welfare state withdrawal, particularly from poor peripheral areas, where tensions between marginalized youth and police often manifest in public spaces. Challenging a conventional distinction made in research on protest, the book integrates a structural analysis of processes of large scale urban transformation with analyses of the relationship between 'riots' and social movement action in nine countries: France, Greece, England, Germany, Spain, Poland, Denmark, Sweden and Turkey.

This collection deals with the transformation of urban movements in these new social, economic and political environments.

eBook available with sample pages: 0203361369

This book analyses the waves of protests, from spontaneous uprisings to well-organized forms of collective action, which have shaken European cities over the last decade. It shows how analysing these protests in connection with the structural context of neoliberal urbanism and its crises is more productive than standard explanations. Processes of neoliberalisation have caused deeply segregated urban landscapes defined by deepening social inequality, rising unemployment, racism, securitization of urban spaces and welfare state withdrawal, particularly from poor peripheral areas, where tensions between marginalized youth and police often manifest in public spaces. Challenging a conventional distinction made in research on protest, the book integrates a structural analysis of processes of large scale urban transformation with analyses of the relationship between 'riots' and social movement action in nine countries: France, Greece, England, Germany, Spain, Poland, Denmark, Sweden and Turkey.

The worldwide financial crisis has sent shock-waves of accelerated economic restructuring, regulatory reorganization and sociopolitical conflict through cities around the world. It has also given new impetus to the struggles of urban social movements emphasizing the injustice, destructiveness and unsustainability of capitalist forms of urbanization. This book contributes analyses intended to be useful for efforts to roll back contemporary profit-based forms of urbanization, and to promote alternative, radically democratic and sustainable forms of urbanism. The contributors provide cutting-edge analyses of contemporary urban restructuring, including the issues of neoliberalization, gentrification, colonization, "creative" cities, architecture and political power, sub-prime mortgage foreclosures and the ongoing struggles of "right to the city" movements. At the same time, the book explores the diverse interpretive frameworks critical and otherwise that are currently being used in academic discourse, in political struggles, and in everyday life to decipher contemporary urban transformations and contestations. The slogan, "cities for people, not for profit," sets into stark relief what the contributors view as a central political question involved in efforts, at once theoretical and practical, to address the global urban crises of our time.

Drawing upon European and North American scholarship in sociology, politics, geography, urban planning and urban design, the book provides useful insights and perspectives for citizens, activists and intellectuals interested in exploring alternatives to contemporary forms of capitalist urbanization.

The worldwide financial crisis has sent shock-waves of accelerated economic restructuring, regulatory reorganization and sociopolitical conflict through cities around the world. It has also given new impetus to the struggles of urban social movements emphasizing the injustice, destructiveness and unsustainability of capitalist forms of urbanization. This book contributes analyses intended to be useful for efforts to roll back contemporary profit-based forms of urbanization, and to promote alternative, radically democratic and sustainable forms of urbanism.

The contributors provide cutting-edge analyses of contemporary urban restructuring, including the issues of neoliberalization, gentrification, colonization, "creative" cities, architecture and political power, sub-prime mortgage foreclosures and the ongoing struggles of "right to the city" movements. At the same time, the book explores the diverse interpretive frameworks critical and otherwise that are currently being used in academic discourse, in political struggles, and in everyday life to decipher contemporary urban transformations and contestations. The slogan, "cities for people, not for profit," sets into stark relief what the contributors view as a central political question involved in efforts, at once theoretical and practical, to address the global urban crises of our time.

Drawing upon European and North American scholarship in sociology, politics, geography, urban planning and urban design, the book provides useful insights and perspectives for citizens, activists and intellectuals interested in exploring alternatives to contemporary forms of capitalist urbanization. "

How is tolerance reflected in urban space? Which urban actors are involved in the practices and narratives of tolerance? What are the limits of tolerance? The edited volume answers these questions by considering different forms of urban in/exclusion and participatory citizenship. By drawing together disparate yet critical writings, Doing Tolerance examines the production of space, urban struggles and tactics of power from an interdisciplinary perspective. Illustrating the paradoxes within diverse interactions, the authors focus on the conflict between heterogeneous groups of the governed, on the one hand, and the governing in urban spaces, on the other. Above all, the volume explores the divergences and convergences of participatory citizenship, as they are revealed in urban space through political, socio-economic and cultural conditions and the entanglements of social mobilities.

Seit Beginn der 90er Jahre ist von deutschen Kommunalverwaltungen eine Modemisierungskampagne in Gang gesetzt, die von der Kommunalen Ge meinschaftsstelle fUr Verwaltungsvereinfachung (KGSt) und von zahlreichen Untemehmensberatem unterstiitzt, aber von der Politik- und Verwaltungs wissenschaft noch keineswegs systematisch beforscht wird. Ende 1995 expe rimentierten bereits 82 der 84 Gro13st?dte Deutsch1ands mit Elementen eines Neuen Steuerungsmodells, aber noch mangelt es an fundierter empirischer Forschung zu den aktuellen Ver?nderungen im lokalen politisch-administra tiven System und ihren Auswirkungen. Folglich rankt sich eine Fiille von Kontroversen um die Ausrichtung des Neuen Steuerungsmodells, seine Ausgestaltung fiir verschiedene Politikbe reiche, die Redefmition des Verh?ltnisses von Politik und Verwaltung, die Balance von Verwaltungsefflzienz und Demokratie, und die Anwendbarkeit von in avancierteren ausl?ndischen Kommunen gemachten Erfahrungen auf die deutsche Situation. Solange die wissenschaftlichen Beitr?ge prim? als normative Modemisierungsvorsch1?ge daherkommen, sind diese Kontrover sen kaum produktiv zu entfalten. In letzter Zeit jedoch sind zunehmend auch empirische Begleitprojekte und kritische Analysen verschiedener Bereiche kommunaler Ressourcenmobilisierung begonnen worden. Der Arbeitskreis Lokale Politikforschung innerhalb der Deutschen Vereinigung fiir Politische Wissenschaft initiierte mit seiner Tagung "Ressourcen Lokaler Politik" im Friihjahr 1997 in Harmover eine Diskussion zwischen Akteuren der kommu nalen Verwaltungsreform und Forschem, die empirisch, komparativ und aus I?ndische Forschungsergebnisse nutzend die Entwicklungen und Probleme der deutschen Reformbemiihungen untersuchen. Der vorliegende Band doku mentiert und entwickelt die dort begonnene Diskussion und pr?sentiert somit den aktuellen Stand der bundesrepublikanischen Forschungslage zur Moder nisierung der Kommunalpolitik."

The Greens have been not only a political force and social conscience for Germany before reunification and after but also an inspiration to political groups and movements in many other countries. The Greens have raised the issues of ecology, gender, and grassroots democracy in protest against government. They have also had the rare opportunity to try converting themselves into a political party that works within the system. This is a book about their paradoxical situation and about the dilemmas all advocates of change face when they become powerful enough to negotiate with the status quo. The critical essays by German social scientists and activists also provide a detailed picture of the dynamics of the German Greens -- where their support has come from, the nature of the competing factions, and the place of feminism. The editors provide a substantial introduction. The flavor and texture of the Greens -- including their raucous public arguments and their innovative campaign tactics -- are suggested by the political posters included in the book and by a whole section of primary documents. The documents and the essays (except for one originally written in English) have been translated from the German. The result is to make available to English-speaking readers a view of a complex movement whose very name and color have become synonymous with social action in favor of the environment and the empowerment of people.