Cities for People, Not for Profit

Cities for People, Not for Profit examines how neoliberal policies have transformed urban spaces and communities across the globe. The book brings together essays from leading scholars in urban studies, geography, and sociology to analyze the impacts of market-driven development. The contributors investigate specific case studies of cities experiencing displacement, gentrification, and privatization of public spaces. Their research spans multiple continents and contexts, from housing rights movements to environmental justice initiatives. The essays critique dominant urban development models while highlighting grassroots alternatives and resistance movements. Through both theoretical analysis and empirical research, the authors document how communities organize to reclaim their right to the city. This collection offers critical perspectives on the relationship between capitalism and urbanization, while pointing toward possibilities for more equitable and democratic cities. The book serves as both an academic resource and a practical guide for urban scholars, activists, and policymakers.

Readers appreciate the book's detailed analysis of urban policy and social movements in the context of neoliberalism. Many reviews highlight the value of combining theoretical perspectives with practical case studies. Liked: - Clear examination of gentrification and displacement - Strong connection between theory and real-world examples - Comprehensive coverage of urban social movements - Useful for both academics and activists Disliked: - Dense academic language makes it inaccessible to general readers - Some chapters feel repetitive - Limited solutions offered for the problems identified - North American/European focus lacks global perspective Ratings: Goodreads: 4.12/5 (51 ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (6 ratings) Notable review quote: "Valuable theoretical framework but could benefit from more concrete policy recommendations" - Goodreads reviewer The collection receives stronger reviews from academic readers and urban planning students than from general readers seeking practical urban solutions.

The Right to the City by Henri Lefebvre This foundational text examines urban inhabitants' rights to participate in shaping their cities through radical transformation of urban life.

Rebel Cities by David W. Harvey The book connects urban social movements to anti-capitalist struggles and explores how cities can become centers of revolutionary politics.

The New Urban Question by Andy Merrifield This work analyzes contemporary urban crises through critical urban theory and presents strategies for reclaiming cities from neoliberal forces.

In Defense of Housing by Peter Marcuse, David Madden The text deconstructs the commodification of housing and presents housing as a social right rather than a market-based commodity.

The Death and Life of Great American Cities by Jane Jacobs This critique of modernist urban planning principles presents a framework for understanding cities as complex systems shaped by social interactions and everyday life.

🏙️ The book emerged from a conference at the City University of New York Graduate Center in 2009, bringing together leading urban scholars to address the global financial crisis's impact on cities. 🌍 Authors Brenner, Marcuse, and Mayer specifically challenge the neoliberal approach to urban development that dominated city planning since the 1970s. 📚 The term "right to the city," which features prominently in the book, was originally coined by French philosopher Henri Lefebvre in 1968 to describe the collective right of urban inhabitants to shape their environment. 🏗️ The book introduces the concept of "critical urban theory," which examines how cities can be transformed from spaces of commodity production into places that prioritize human needs and social justice. 💡 Co-author Neil Brenner established the Urban Theory Lab at Harvard University, which produces innovative visualizations of planetary urbanization patterns and their social implications.