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This book explores the interconnections between urbanization and capitalism to examine the current condition of cities due to capitalism. It brings together interdisciplinary insights from leading academics, activists and researchers to envision progressive, anti-capitalist changes for the future of cities.
The exploitative nature of capitalist urbanization, as seen in the manifestation of modern cities, has threatened and affected life on Earth in unprecedented ways. This book unravels these threats to ecosystems and biodiversity and addresses the widening gap between the rich and the poor. It considers the future impacts of the capitalist urbanization on the planet and the generations to come and offers directions to imagine and build de-capitalised and de-urbanised cities to promote environmental sustainability. Written in lucid style, the chapters in the book illustrate the current situation of capitalist urbanization and expose how it exploits and consumes the planet. It also looks at alternative habitat practices of building autonomous and ecological human settlements, and how these can lead to a transformation of capitalist urbanization.
The book also includes current debates on COVID-19 pandemic to consider post-pandemic challenges in envisioning a de-capitalised, eco-friendly society in the immediate future. It will be useful for academics and professionals in the fields of sociology, urban planning and design and urban studies.
List of contents
Part 1: Cities and Capitalism 1. Cities Without Capital: A Systemic Approach 2. Cities and Subjectivity Within and Against Capitalism 3. Can Urbanization Reduce Inequality and Limit Climate Change? 4. Tent City Urbanism Part 2: Cities Against Capitalism 5. Transition Design as a Strategy for Addressing Urban Wicked Problems 6. Transition Pioneers: Cultural Currents and Social Movements of Our Time That "Preveal" the Future Post-Capitalist City 7. Urban Commons: Toward a Better Understanding of the Potentials and Pitfalls of Self-Organized Projects 8. Counteracting the Negative Effects of Real Estate-Driven Urbanism + Empowering the Self-Constructed City Part 3: Cities Without Capitalism 9. What Will a Non-capitalist City Look Like? 10. Towards Democratic and Ecological Cities 11. The Coming Revolution of Peer Production and the Synthetisation of the Urban and Rural: The Solution of the Contradiction between City and the Country
About the author
Hossein Sadri, an academic, activist, architect, permaculture designer and urbanist, is teaching contemporary challenges in architecture at Coventry University and Girne American University. His fields of research include deurbanization, future cities, and design of socio-ecological and ethical habitats.
Senem Zeybekoglu, an academic, architect, passivhaus designer, permaculture designer, co-founder of de-urban design studio and director of Ecodemia: An Ethical and Socio-Ecological Academia, is a full professor at Girne American University.
Summary
This book explores the interconnections between urbanization and capitalism to examine the current condition of cities due to capitalism. It brings together interdisciplinary insights from leading academics, activists and researchers to envision progressive, anti-capitalist changes for the future of cities.
