Key Concepts in Urban Studies
- Mark Gottdiener - University at Buffalo, SUNY, Buffalo, NY, USA
- Leslie Budd - The Open University
- Panu Lehtovuori - Tampere University of Technology, Finland
SAGE Key Concepts series
- Lily Kong, Singapore Management University
"An insightful multidisciplinary introduction to the multifarious places, processes and problems that constitute modern cities. Its short, digestible entries unpack the complexity and evolution of urban conditions, offering cross-references between concepts and links to key literature and to useful current and historical examples. The book’s clear, often sharp critical edge also encourages deeper enquiry."
- Quentin Stevens, School of Architecture and Design, RMIT University
Key Concepts in Urban Studies is an essential companion for students of urban studies, urban sociology, urban politics, urban planning and urban development.
This revised edition has been updated and expanded to provide a keen global focus, particularly in emerging economies with discussions on the creation of “dream cities” in the Gulf States and a renewed emphasis on building mega-scaled “downtowns” in India and China. New features include:
- Contemporary and international examples throughout.
- Detailed entries on environmental concerns and the sustainability of urban development.
- Discussion of the role of consumption in city culture and urban development.
- New entries on modern urban planning and adaptive urbanism.
Key Concepts in Urban Studies is a must-have text with an explicit focus on contemporary urbanism which students will find invaluable during their studies.
Mark Gottdiener is Professor Emeritus of Sociology at The University at Buffalo (SUNY). Leslie Budd is Reader in Social Science at the Open University. Panu Lehtovuori is Professor of Planning Theory at Tampere University of Technology.
Key Concepts in Urban Studies is written in an accessible, concise way and introduces students to the key topics in urban studies. Drawing examples from different parts of the world, this authoritative resource exposes students to the diverse forms that cities take, and the social, spatial and temporal dimensions of urban living. It is an essential resource for students across disciplines interested in the city.
This book provides an insightful multidisciplinary introduction to the multifarious places, processes and problems that constitute modern cities. Its short, digestible entries unpack the complexity and evolution of urban conditions, offering cross-references between concepts and links to key literature and to useful current and historical examples. The book’s clear, often sharp critical edge also encourages deeper enquiry.
The authors do not profess to address all concepts in the field of urban studies, but rather present topics that they deem appropriate and include commentaries that reflect their own expertise and perspectives. As such, some topics that existed in the First Edition have been either rewritten or combined in this Second Edition, and six new topics have been inserted, including Sustainable Urbanization, Temporary Uses and Adaptive Urbanism, and Globalization and Meltdown. Furthermore, the authors have expanded the cases and examples given throughout the book to stretch beyond UK and US experiences.
The strengths of the book are many and varied. Focusing on the ‘essential’ topics in urban studies, the book outlines key concepts in a way that is both authoritative and accessible... Locating key concepts within the wider international body of literature, the book is able to cross reference many strands of theory and research relevant to an impressively wide array of subjects. The book offers the reader a range of contemporary and international examples in order to aid understanding, with up-to-date statistical evidence presented in easy to read tables, graphs and charts.
Written as a study aid as well as a practical guide to the comprehension of the main issues in urban studies, the extensive links to the key literature
make this a very good vehicle for encouraging students to develop a deeper understanding of what can be very complex issues.
The authors provide short or longer essays—ranging from several paragraphs to page-long entries—oncore terms and concepts in the field. The strength of this assemblage by Gottdiener (Univ. at Buffalo), Budd (The OpenUniv.), and Lehtovuori (Tampere Univ. of Technology, Finland) is its critical approach to the concepts and, in many entries, its overview of historical and contemporary theories and perspectives on them. The work will be valuable as an introductory or a companion reader for undergraduate and graduate students in urban studies, urban planning, urban design, and related fields, providing a starting point or context for in-depth exploration of concepts and theories. Content is substantially different from the first edition. New entries were added (e.g., "Temporary Uses and Adaptive Urbanism") and a few entries omitted to reflect changing emphases in the field. Much content was rewritten, consolidated, condensed, and updated. Geographic coverage was expanded beyond the US and UK, particularly to include perspectives and practices from Asia.
This book is a really good guide when the students in urban planning course are coming from different cultures, perhaps lacking some back ground skills in planning generally.
Timely book on key concepts written for students which is accesible
This small handbook introduces over 30 main concepts we are using in teaching urban studies today and it is very useful in urban studies as well as in urban planning, urban sociology, urban politics and urban development. In the preface the authors share their concern transformingn about the ”rise” of the city and the hype over its universal values . transforming the global socio-economic environment, when the main voice in celebrity academics seems to believe that urbanization is including the silver bullet for sustainable economic growth.
The book is serving a critical viewpoint with not only defining the selection of the important concepts but also opening them through examples from different cities all over the world and giving exact references among the literature in the field.
I would appreciate to see this book in the hands of our students, also advanced ones, as a guide for them when they are independently trying to find their way in urban studies’ many routes.
This small handbook introduces over 30 main concepts we are using in teaching urban studies today and it is very useful in urban studies as well as in urban planning, urban sociology, urban politics and urban development. In the preface the authors share their concern transformingn about the ”rise” of the city and the hype over its universal values . transforming tThe global socio-economic environment , when the main voice in celebrity academics seems to believe that urbanization is including (carrying?) the silver bullet for sustainable economic growth.
The book is serving a critical viewpoint with not only defining the selection of the important concepts but also opening them through examples from different cities all over the world and giving exact references among the literature in the field.
I would appreciate to see this book in the hands of our students, also advanced ones, as a guide for them when they are independently trying to find their way in urban studies’ many routes.
Sage College Publishing
