“Spectral Kinshasa: Building the City through an Architecture of Words”

Abstract

Since the late eighteenth century academic engagement with political, economic, social, cultural, and spatial changes in our cities has been dominated by theoretical frameworks crafted with reference to just a small number of cities in the 'Global North'. This book offers an important antidote to the focus of urban studies on cities in 'the West'. Urban Theory Beyond the West contains 20 contributions from leading scholars, raising important conceptual issues about cities throughout the world and at different levels of urban hierarchy. Past and current theoretical developments are reviewed and organized into four parts, focusing on de-centring the city, order/ disorder, mobilities, and imaginaries. There are three kinds of chapters published in this volume: theories generated about urbanity 'beyond the West'; critiques, reworking, or refining of 'Western' urban theory based upon conceptual reflection on cities beyond 'the West'; and hybrid approaches that develop both of these perspectives. Urban Theory Beyond the West offers critical and accessible reviews of past and current theoretical developments, providing an original and groundbreaking contribution to urban theory. It is essential reading for students and practitioners interested in urban studies, development studies and geography.