The Right to Urban Theory

• In Event: 062 - Section on Community and Urban Sociology Paper Session. Urban Theory

Abstract

The study of urban space, privatization, and the public sphere is an important research topics within urban sociology. Over the last decade there has been increasing concern with neoliberal urban policies and the privatization of public space. The critique of these policies often makes use of Henri Lefebvre's idea of "the right to the city" and in fact "right to the city" movements have emerged in cities around the world. We argue that while Lefebvre very likely would be supportive of these movements, "the right to the city" in his original meaning has often been misused, and that it is important to return to the original to understand the specific class-based and more radical perspective that Lefebvre proposed in his work.

Authors

• Ray Hutchison, University of Wisconsin-Green Bay

• João Pedro Nunes, Nova University-Lisbon