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How do we find new ways of urban being and doing? This edited collection explores how global capitalism has shaped cities into sites of inequality, precarity and alienation—spaces designed to serve profit rather than people. Drawing on diverse examples, the book analyses how urban life is failing under current economic systems and offers real-world alternatives that promote human flourishing.
From rethinking urban governance to exploring community-led initiatives, the collection offers evidence-based visions for cities grounded in care, equity and social purpose. It is a vital resource for anyone seeking to understand and transform urban life in the face of deepening global crises.
‘An eye-opener for critical scholars and citizens alike, this volume helps to reveal not only how capitalism operates through our cities, but also ways to overcome it.’ Miguel A. Martínez, Uppsala University, author of Squatters in the Capitalist City and editor of the Research Handbook on Urban Sociology
‘An exquisitely curated, global journey through the urban spaces forging fairer, sustainable and more human cities; everything that capitalist urbanism is failing to deliver.’ Oli Mould, Royal Holloway University
‘A hopeful collection of alternatives guided by a fundamentally accurate conviction: that it’s possible to erode capitalism.’ Bertie Russell, Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona
'This book is a statement. In times of despair, here is a series of spaces where proactive and hopeful strategy can be found. Reasons to be cheerful: 1 to 17.' Samuel Burgum, author of Squatting London
Rowland Atkinson is Chair in Inclusive Societies at the University of Sheffield.
Beth Perry is Professor of Urban Epistemics and Director of the Urban Institute at the University of Sheffield.
Jonathan Silver is Senior Research Fellow at the Urban Institute at the University of Sheffield.
1. Towards an Anticapitalist Urbanism: Out of the Money Machine - Rowland Atkinson, Beth Perry, Jonathan Silver
2. Seeing Democracy like an Anticapitalist City - Ross Beveridge and Philippe Koch
3. New Municipalism Experiences and the Anticapitalist City: Evidence from the UK, Spain, Argentina, Brazil and Chile - Gabriel Silvestre
4. What Kind of Statecraft Might Anticapitalists Demand? Possibilities for Governing Socially Embedded Waste Infrastructure in South Africa - Kathleen Stokes and Mary Lawhon
5. Anticapitalist Urban Politics: Interrogating the past to Think About the Future - Allan Cochrane
6. Cities Against the Super-Rich - Rowland Atkinson, Hang Kei Ho and Sharda Rozena
7. Using Capitalism’s Tools Against Itself: Creating a New Urban Commons Through Self-Renovating Neighbourhoods - Jess Steele
8. Race and the Post-Capitalist City: Invisible Walls - Rex McKenzie and Zakiya McKenzie
9. Policing the Anticapitalist City - SJ Cooper-Knock and Kamau Wairuri
10. ‘Struggles Within, For, and Against: Exploring Tenant Organising in UK Social Housing’ - Nick Clare, Joe Kearsey and Shaun French
11. Moving Towards Anticapitalist, Anti-Ableist Cities - Antonios Ktenidis and Amro Yaghi
12. Walking the Anticapitalist City Into Being - Morag Rose
13. Urban Gardening: The Seeds of Post-Capitalism? - Owain Hanmer
14. Community Food: Escaping Into the Anticapitalist City Through Growing - Helen Traill
15. Towards a Less Capitalist City for Children and Families - Karen Laing, Claire Rodgerson and Liz Todd
16. Can Primary Schools Be Anticapitalist? - Beth Perry and Cat Malpass
17. Recoding the Anticapitalist City - Beth Perry, Rowland Atkinson and Jonathan Silver