Building Cities - Definitions

Building Cities

to construct, put up, erect; large towns

capital cities

expected to be a symbolic centre

industrialization

a process of economic and socail change whcih shifts the centres of economic activity onto the focus of work, wages and income

bilbao effect

economic and cultural revitalization of cities, through the use of innovaite, ‘iconic’ architecture

Expansion in north America

advance of American settlement westward

expansion in South America

gradual expansion inward, away from the urban settlements along the coasts

Empire

group of states or countries ruled over by a single monarch, an oligarchy, or soverign state (roman empire)

colony

a country or state under the full or partial political control of another country and occupied by settlers from that country.

Imperialism

state policy of extending dominion, usually by direct territorial acquisitions, tied to the ideas of superiority of one people/state over the other

modern imperialsim

instead of being primarily buyers of colonial products, now industrializing nations are in search of markets for their growing volume of machine-produced goods (ideology that legitimizes the violent remaking of colonized societies in the mirror image of empire)

colonialism

the policy or practice of acquiring full or partial political control over another country, occuping it with settlers, and exploititng it economically

colonial urbanism

practice of designing cities to reinforce the power of colonial governments over local populations; characterized by segregation, the use of space to control the colonized, and the marginalization of local communities

globalization

the process by which businesses or other organizations develop international influence or start operating on an international scale, widely considered to be at the expense of national identity (worldwide movement toward economic, financial, trade, and commmunications integration.) (opening of local and nationalistic perspectives to a broader outlook of an interconnected and interdependent world with free transfer of capital, goods, and services.)

Right to the City - Lefebvre

Core Idea: Urban spaces should be shaped and governed by the citizens who inhabit

them, not solely controlled by market forces.

• Critique of Capitalism: Lefebvre criticized the commodification of urban life, where social

interactions and urban spaces are treated as exclusive good.

• Inclusivity and Accessibility: Emphasizes the need for inclusivity, accessibility, and

democracy in urban spaces.

• Social Justice: Advocates for greater social justice and equitable access to urban

resources.

• Active Participation: Calls for active citizen participation in urban development and

governance.

• Resistance to Displacement: Opposes displacement and gentrification, promoting laws

to protect residents.

• Global Influence: The concept has influenced social movements and urban policies

worldwide, particularly in Latin America and Europe.

• Vision of Urban Life: Lefebvre envisioned urban spaces as meeting points for building

collective life and fostering social interactions

Right to the City - Harvey

• Human Rights and Urbanization: Harvey discusses the importance of human rights in

the context of urbanization.

• Critique of Neoliberalism: He critiques neoliberal market logics that prioritize private

property and profit over collective rights.

• Urbanization and Capitalism: Harvey links urbanization to capitalism, suggesting that

urban development often responds to crises of capital accumulation.

• Collective Power: Emphasizes the need for democratizing the power to shape urban

spaces, stressing that urban change requires collective action.

• Transformation and Self-Change: The right to the city is about transforming urban

spaces to change ourselves.

• Social Relations: Highlights the importance of social relations, daily life, and aesthetic

values in shaping urban environments.

• Freedom to Remake: Emphasizes the freedom to make and remake cities as a

fundamental human right.

• Class Phenomenon: Urbanization is seen as a class phenomenon, with surplus products

being controlled by a few.

Utopia - Fernando Birri

Utopia lies at the horizion. When I draw nearer by two steps, it retreats two steps. If i proceed ten steps forward, it swiftly slips ten steps ahead. No matter how far I go, I can never reach it. What, then is the purpose of utopia? It is to cause us to advance.