Suspended in 2025/26
GY439      Half Unit
Cities, Politics and Citizenship

This information is for the 2025/26 session.

Course Convenor

Dr Murray Low

Availability

This course is available on the MSc in City Design and Social Science, MSc in Culture and Society, MSc in Environment and Development, MSc in Environmental Policy, Technology and Health (Environment and Development) (LSE and Peking University), 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. This course uses controlled access as part of the course selection process.

How to apply: Priority: N/A. Priority is typically for students enrolled in Geography and Environment programmes, or joint degree programmes, however course specific availability is indicated via the 'Availability section' on the LSE course guide webpages. Guidance on how to apply to individual controlled access courses can also be found on LSE for You in the Graduate Course Selection system.

Please note: The number of students that can be accommodated is limited. If a course is over-subscribed, places will be allocated at the Department's discretion and a waiting list may be created. It is advised to have an alternative course in mind as a back-up in case you are unable to secure your first-choice course selection.

Deadline for application: Further guidance and information on course selection for Geography and Environment courses (GY4xx) will be available on the Geography and Environment Course Selection Moodle page which will go live from Monday 8 September and will be updated with course availability information daily throughout the course selection period. This page includes information on the timeline for course selection decisions in the Geography and Environment Department as well as the individual course application processes and requirements

A list of all taught master's courses in this Department are listed on LSE's course guide webpages.

For queries contact: geog.ud@lse.ac.uk

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

In the Department of Geography and Environment, teaching will be delivered through a combination of classes/seminars, pre-recorded lectures, live online lectures, in-person lectures and other supplementary interactive live activities.

This course is delivered through interactive seminars across Winter Term

This course includes a reading week in Week 6 of Winter Term

Formative assessment

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

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

Essay (100%, 2400 words)

The essay will be an online timed exam.


Key facts

Department: Geography and Environment

Course Study Period: Autumn Term

Unit value: Half unit

FHEQ Level: Level 7

CEFR Level: Null

Total students 2024/25: Unavailable

Average class size 2024/25: Unavailable

Controlled access 2024/25: No
Guidelines for interpreting course guide information

Course selection videos

Some departments have produced short videos to introduce their courses. Please refer to the course selection videos index page for further information.

Personal development skills

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