Book Launch – Between Realism and Revolt

Wed, June 16, 2021 | 5pm – 7pm | CEST

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About this Event

Jonathan Davies, Professor of Critical Policy Studies at De Montfort University will be presenting his new book. Between Realism and Revolt: Governing Cities in the Crisis of Neoliberal Globalism (Bristol University Press) explores urban governance in the “age of austerity”, focusing on the period between the global financial crisis of 2008-9 and the beginning of the global Coronavirus pandemic at the end of 2019.

It considers austerity governance from the perspective of governability. How did cities navigate the crisis and the aftermath of austerity, with what political ordering and disordering dynamics at the forefront? To answer these questions, it engages with two influential theoretical currents, Urban Regime Theory and Gramscian state theory, with a view to understanding how governance enabled austerity, deflected or intensified localised expressions of crisis, and generated more-or-less successful political alternatives.

It develops a comparative analysis of case studies undertaken by local investigators in the cities of Athens, Baltimore, Barcelona, Greater Dandenong (Melbourne), Leicester, Montreal and Nantes, and concludes by highlighting five characteristics that cut across the cities, unevenly and in different configurations: economic rationalism, weak hegemony, retreat to dominance, weak counter-hegemony and radically contagious politicisations.

Jonathan is founding Director of the Centre for Urban Research on Austerity and Professor of Critical Policy Studies. He publishes in leading journals including the Journal of Urban Affairs, the International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, Environment and Planning A, Urban Studies, Political Studies, Policy & Politics and Public Administration. His research interests span critical issues in governance, urban studies and public policy.

There will be a promotional code available to purchase the book to anyone who attends the event, or should you prefer to purchase the book beforehand, please click here

The event will be online and you will be given the opportunity to get involved with the discussions and ask questions.

Bookings will close 1 hour prior to the start of the event, and registrants will receive a link to join the online event 24hrs before the event, via their provided email address.

Please contact the DMU Events Office on eventsoffice@dmu.ac.uk if you have any questions.

This event is open to all.

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