Drawing on a rich diversity of theoretical approaches and analytical strategies, urban geographers have been at the forefront of understanding the global and local processes shaping cities, and of making sense of the urban experiences of a wide variety of social groups. Through their links with those working in the fields of urban policy design, urban geographers have also played an important role in the analysis of the economic and social problems confronting cities. Capturing the diversity of scholarship in the field of urban geography, this reader presents a stimulating selection of articles and excerpts by leading figures. Organized around seven themes, it addresses the changing economic, social, cultural, and technological conditions of contemporary urbanization and the range of personal and public responses. It reflects the academic importance of urban geography in terms of both its theoretical and empirical analysis as well as its applied policy relevance, and features extensive editorial input in the form of general, section and individual extract introductions. Bringing together in one volume 'classic' and contemporary pieces of urban geography, studies undertaken in the developed and developing worlds, and examples of theoretical and applied research, it provides in a convenient, student-friendly format, an unparalleled resource for those studying the complex geographies of urban areas.

Table of Contents:
Part 1: Foundations 1. The Growth of the City: An Introduction to a Research Project Edward W. Burgess 2. The Structure and Growth of Residential Neighborhoods in American Cities Homer Hoyt 3. A Theory of Location for Cities Edward L. Ullman 4. The Nature of Cities Chauncey D. Harris and Edward L. Ullman Part 2: Globalization & Transnationalism 5. Social Polarization in Global Cities: Theory and Evidence Chris Hamnett 6. The World City Hypothesis: Reflections from the Periphery D. Simon 7. Cultural Globalization and the Identity of Place: The Reconstruction of Amsterdam Jan Nijman 8. World-City Network: A New Metageography? Beaverstock et al Part 3: Restructuring 9. The Urban Process Under Capitalism David Harvey 10. Beyond the Crabgrass Frontier: Industry and the Spread of North American Cities, 1850-1950 Richard Walker and Robert D. Lewis 11. Gentrification, the Frontier and the Restructuring of Urban Space Neil Smith 12. Postmodern Urbanism Michael Dear and Steven Flusty Part 4: Governance, Politics and Inequality 13. Local Governance, the Crises of Fordism and the Changing Geographies of Regulation Mark Goodwin & Joe Painter 14. Local Politics in a Global Era: Thinking Locally, Acting Globally Susan E. Clarke and Gary L. Gaile 15. Territoriality, Politics and the 'Urban' Cox 16. Retooling the Machine: Economic Crisis, State Restructuring and Urban Politics Jessop, Peck and Tickell 17. Yuppies, Yuffies and the New Urban Order Short 18. From Urban Entrepreneurialism to a 'Revanchist City'? On the Spatial Injustices of Glasgow's Renaissance McLeod Part 5: Difference 19. The Idea of Chinatown: The Power of Place and Institutional Practice in the Making of a Racial Category Kay Anderson 20. An Archaeology of Environmental Racism in Los Angeles Laura Pulido, S. Sidawi & R. Voss 21. On the Links Between Home and Work: In Household Strategies in a Buoyant Labour Market Gerry Pratt & Susan Hanson 22. Gender Divisions and Gentrification Liz Bondi 23. Gentrification and Gay Neighborhood Formation in New Orleans: A Case Study Larry Knopp Part 6: Form & Symbolism 24. Styles of the Times: Liberal and Neo-Conservative Landscapes in Inner Vancouver, 1968-86 David Ley 25. The Restless Urban Landscape Paul Knox 26. Portland's Comprehensive Plan as Text: The Fred Meyer Case and the Politics of Reading Judith Kenny 27. The Magic of the Mall: An Analysis of Form, Function, and Meaning in the Contemporary Retail Built Environment Jon Goss 28. Sunshine and Shadow: Lighting and Color in the Depiction of Cities on Film Larry Ford Part 7: Technologies 29. City Watching: Close Circuit Television Surveillance in Public Spaces Nicholas Fyfe and John Bannister 30. Telecommunications and the Changing Geographies of Knowledge Transmission in the Late 20th Century Barney Warf 31. GIS Use in Community Planning: A Multi-Dimensional Analysis of Empowerment Sarah A. Ellwood 32. Fetishizing the Modern City: The Phantasmagoria of Urban Technological Networks Maria Kaika and Erik Swyngedouw