Abstract Urban political ecology ( UPE ), an offshoot of that emerged in the late 1990s, has had two major impacts on critical urban studies: it introduced to settings, and provided a framework for retheorizing city as product metabolic processes socionatural transformation. However, there was another goal early programmatic statements largely fallen by wayside: mobilize Lefebvrian theoretical trouble traditional distinctions between urban/rural society/nature exploring urbanization global...

This article identifies and explains an underlying transition in global urban policy discourse from the city as a sustainability problem to solution. We argue that contemporary discourses of cities saving planet should be understood context three major historical developments which have their roots 1970s intensified throughout 1990s. The first is sprawl: agenda Global North has been large part reaction several decades expansion car-based planning. second informal settlements: since...

In the past two decades, urban sustainability has become a new policy common sense. This article argues that contemporary thought and practice is coconstituted by distinct representational forms, which we call green nature gray nature. Green return of to city in its most verdant form, signified street trees, gardens, greening postindustrial landscapes. Gray concept social, technological, space as already inherently sustainable, dense cores, high-speed public transit, energy-efficient...

In recent years, three superficially distinct urban subfields have made parallel efforts to incorporate the city’s traditional ‘outsides’ into research. Urban political ecology, American sociology and postcolonial studies made, respectively, ‘nature’, ‘rural’ ‘not-yet’ city objects of self-consciously analyses. I argue that these interventions are analogous hybridise city/nature, city/country or society/nature binaries, they a common cause. Each is response persistent ‘city lens’ remains...

This collection of papers offers a critical look at the social work that infrastructure does. We argue small-scale interactions with are, literally, foundations larger scale ...

Real estate plays an essential part in various sociological theories of political economy, state capacity, racecraft, stratification, and urbanization. However, since foundational insights about the novelty commodified, emplaced private property from theorists like Du Bois Polanyi, these disparate threads have not been tied together into a coherent field study. Here, we review three areas recent scholarship relevant to understanding real estate—the economy place, rights, financialization—in...

One of California's most pressing social and environmental challenges is the rapid expansion wildlands-urban interface (WUI). Multiple issues associated with WUI growth compared to more dense compact urban form are concern-including greatly increased fire risk, greenhouse gas emissions, fragmentation habitat. However, little understood about factors driving this in first place and, specifically, its relationship urban-regional housing dynamics. This paper connects work science, regional...

Abstract In recent years, “urban greening” has become a new keyword in urban policy and practice, used to describe proliferation of quality life environmental sustainability initiatives including street trees, public parks, greenways, farmers' markets, green roofs, LEED certification design. The emerging critical literature on greening highlighted important ways green's social economic added value affects the political economy contemporary produces inequalities access real or perceived...

Abstract A common thread has emerged in recent critiques of planetary urbanization. Whether on empirical, epistemological or theoretical grounds, critics tend to posit ‘difference against abstraction’, arguing that urbanization—as an abstract theory large‐scale phenomena—occludes ‘everyday’ embodied, small‐scale and place‐based forms social difference its production and/or application. Here we engage with this critique as two queer, feminist scholars sympathetic both critics’ arguments about...

This paper examines equity’s incorporation into Climate Action Plans (CAPs), an increasingly important part of the urban sustainability planning landscape. We conduct a content analysis 170 California CAPs and compare plans’ treatment equity to city characteristics such as size income inequality. find that language correlates with increased presence more systemic policy interventions, dense and/or affordable housing, in CAPs. However, majority “miss housing for trees,” green agendas, trees...

This article maps urban reform movements onto 'long waves:' consistently patterned technological and economic cycles that repeat over time. Using the example of United States, we argue periodizing in this way reveals surprising similarities different historical contexts. Across cycles, two tropes repeatedly appear: discourses efficiency, propose solutions to problems, those beauty, turn nature improve social arrangements through design. Within follow a similar pattern each case: they roll...

Abstract Higher educational institutions tend to draw from mainstream approaches environmentalism that reinforce race, class, and gender hierarchies around who constitutes “an environmentalist” what activities constitute “environmentalism.” As a result, students of color other marginalized backgrounds often experience environmental degradation catastrophe firsthand do not see their experiences reflected in universities’ programming, curricula, or research. Furthermore, faculty staff center...

In McFarlane and Brenner, Madden Wachsmuth's exchange, something interesting is lost in the noise about assemblage that I aim to excavate here. McFarlane's paper makes a case for importance...

How we see nature is to a large extent reflection of ourselves. Sociologists Hillary Angelo and Colin Jerolmack use the example New Yorkers’ fascination with two red-tailed hawks reveal deep insights about how represent understand nature.

This essay reflects on the conceptualisation of Ruhr region as an urban and historical research object in English-language scholarship effects this understanding social analysis. It focuses particularly how signs “nature” – form green space incorporated into industrial workers’ colony housing (Arbeitersiedlungen) around turn last century have been seen “exceptions” environment, are subsequently interpreted indicators anti-modern values or pre-industrial ideals. I argue that is result...