UCL Discovery
UCL home » Library Services » Electronic resources » UCL Discovery

Introduction to a virtual issue on comparative urbanism

Robinson, J; (2014) Introduction to a virtual issue on comparative urbanism. International Journal of Urban and Regional Research 10.1111/1468-2427.12171. (In press). Green open access

[thumbnail of Robinson-J_Comparative Urbanism Virtual Issue Introduction text.pdf]
Preview
Text
Robinson-J_Comparative Urbanism Virtual Issue Introduction text.pdf - Accepted Version

Download (394kB) | Preview

Abstract

Comparative urbanism has been a core feature of IJURR's editorial agenda since its founding. This virtual issue comprises 30 articles reflecting IJURR's contribution to comparative urbanism, reinforced by the growing postcolonial insistence on a more global scope for urban studies widely aired in this journal. This introductory article discusses the contemporary potential of comparative urbanism to contribute to a more global urban studies and considers some of the key insights for this project which can be gleaned from early contributions to the journal, including comparing across cities jointly shaped by the uneven development of the world-economy, thinking across socialist and capitalist cities, and the important role of world cities approaches in shaping the scope of urban comparisons. The articles in the section on the 'tactics and terms' of comparison reflect on the methodological, analytical and political challenges involved in building a more global urban studies. In the 'composing comparisons' section there are examples of classic and more recent variation-finding comparisons, and innovative analyses which consider variations amongst cities within and across regions, including comparisons which challenge or bypass Northern or Western reference points. More experimental comparative methods associated with tracing connections across cities are reflected in the third section, beginning with the seminal world cities analyses and building on more recent interest in policy mobilities. The final section draws together a series of articles which demonstrate the scope for building analyses from specific contexts for wider theoretical interrogation: 'launching and engaging concepts'. These articles reflect the best traditions of IJURR's editorial practices which have encouraged contributions from authors around the globe whose work disrupts and extends prominent analyses but who are also eager to initiate new theorizations through attending to the specificity of their case studies and situations. Here we see, for example, the concept of 'informality' emerging in studies of cities in Africa, to be put to work in the final contribution to the issue, in the USA. © 2014 Urban Research Publications Limited.

Type: Article
Title: Introduction to a virtual issue on comparative urbanism
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.1111/1468-2427.12171
Publisher version: http://doi.org/10.1111/1468-2427.12171
Language: English
Additional information: This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions.
Keywords: Comparative urbanism; comparative methods; postcolonial urban studies; experimental comparisons; variation-finding; regional urban studies; world cities; IJURR editorial policy
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL SLASH
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL SLASH > Faculty of S&HS
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL SLASH > Faculty of S&HS > Dept of Geography
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/1455571
Downloads since deposit
566Downloads
Download activity - last month
Download activity - last 12 months
Downloads by country - last 12 months

Archive Staff Only

View Item View Item