GY439      Half Unit
Cities, Politics and Citizenship

This information is for the 2019/20 session.

Teacher responsible

Dr Murray Low STC.S.512

Availability

This course is available on the MPA in International Development, MPA in Public Policy and Management, MPA in Public and Economic Policy, MPA in Public and Social Policy, MPA in Social Impact, MSc in City Design and Social Science, MSc in Culture and Society, MSc in Environment and Development, MSc in Human Geography and Urban Studies (Research), MSc in Regional And Urban Planning Studies, MSc in Urban Policy (LSE and Sciences Po) and MSc in Urbanisation and Development. This course is available with permission as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit.

Course content

Perspectives on contemporary urban politics. The course will equip students interested in urban change and development to understand and critically assess the variety of ways in which urban politics and policies are imagined and discussed in universities as well as in the world of policy. It will also develop their understandings of key debates and themes in contemporary urban political life.

Topics covered will include: imagining urban politics; theories of urban politics, 'globalisation' and urban political life; urban governance; civil society and urban social movements; urban dimensions of citizenship and migration; policing, violence and urban politics; urban politics and ‘neoliberalism.’

Teaching

20 hours of lectures in the LT. 2 hours of lectures in the ST.

This course has a reading week in LT Week 6

Formative coursework

Students will be expected to produce 1 piece of coursework in the LT.

Indicative reading

J Borja and M Castell, Local and Global, 1997; J Davies and D

Imbroscio, eds., Theories of Urban Politics (2nd Edition), 2009; M

Douglass and J Friedmann, eds., Cities for Citizens, 1998; D Judge, G

Stoker and H Wolman, eds, Theories of Urban Politics, 1995; P Le Galegrave;s,

European Cities, 2002; L Sandercock, Towards Cosmopolis, 1998; S. Sassen

Territory, Authority, Rights, 2006; M P Smith, Translocal Urbanism,

2001.

Assessment

Exam (100%, duration: 2 hours) in the summer exam period.

Student performance results

(2015/16 - 2017/18 combined)

Classification % of students
Distinction 30.6
Merit 42.9
Pass 18.4
Fail 8.2

Key facts

Department: Geography & Environment

Total students 2018/19: 12

Average class size 2018/19: Unavailable

Controlled access 2018/19: No

Value: Half Unit

Guidelines for interpreting course guide information

Personal development skills

  • Self-management
  • Team working
  • Problem solving
  • Communication