In an era plagued by increasing inequality and intensifying climate change, residents of cities are facing crises on multiple fronts, including housing, transport, healthcare, policing, pollution, and dramatic population fluctuations. In response, people are coming together to find solutions. But what does it take for them to change their city for good?
People Power in Cities is an analysis of the strategies people are using to fight for social and climate justice and achieve a greater say in how their cities are run. Highlighting the voices of organizers, activists, thinkers, and movements on the ground, Amanda Tattersall and Kurt Iveson reveal complex ecologies of people struggling for rights to home, dignity, and freedom. They draw from examples around the world, such as the 'be water' fluidity tactic used by crowds in Hong Kong, micro-utopia squats in Cape Town, and electoral reclamation of institutions in Barcelona. Unpacking the advantages and limitations of each strategy, Tattersall and Iveson argue against seeing any one as a 'silver bullet' to the dilemmas faced by urban movements, instead exploring the potential for complementary combinations of strategies that are too often seen in competition. The result is a people power framework that unlocks opportunities for urban movements everywhere seeking to create change. An essential guide for researchers and organizers alike, People Power in Cities makes sense of the dynamic, interconnected, and insurgent urban moment, helping us seize the opportunities for democratic experimentation available in our cities.
People Power in Cities draws from research in cities around the world to show how ordinary people are developing strategies to achieve a greater say in how their cities are run and, more broadly, how the world works. It develops a people power framework based on the variety of tactics to aid researchers and organizers to make the most of opportunities for chance.
