Democratizing Cities: Globalization And The Urban Future

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.

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 and demonstrating how people are already constructing democratic attitudes and democratizing movements in our cities to combat neoliberalism.” - Michael Hardt, Duke University

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.