Marxism and the City (Marxist Introductions) [Paperback]

Ira Katznelson (Author)

Book Description

Series: Marxist Introductions | Publication Date: January 6, 1994

In this work, Katznelson critically analyzes the development of Marxist scholarship on cities in the last quarter century. He demonstrates how some of the most important weaknesses in Marxism as a social theory can be remedied by forcing it to seriously engage with cities and spatial concerns, and explains the significant shortcomings even of this "improved" Marxism. Katznelson explores how a Marxism that is open to engagement with other social-theoretical traditions can help illuminate our understanding of cities and the patterns of class and group formation that have characterized urban life in the West.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"An imaginative, exhilarating, and critically argued survey of the contribution of Marxist-influenced writings to our understanding of the development of modern western cities and to the ways they constituted and were constituted by statebuilding and the development of modern capitalism."--Steven Lukes, European University Institute, Florence

"An erudite and intellectually stimulating synthesis and a unique contribution to Marxist urban theory. Most important, he reminds readers of the roots of Marxist urban theory, reasserts the importance of space to social theory, and reinvigorates the quest to understand capitalist urban society."--Choice

"Ira Katznelson's Marxism and the City not only is a major work of urban politics andd urban history but also makes significant contributions to comparative politics....It is an extraorinarily rich book."--American Political Science Review

"Readers will appreciate this book not for its final resolution of the issues but for the questions that it raises, for its sophisticated review of several Marxist urbanists over the past two decades, for its strong argument for the relevance of urban issues to Marxist thought, and for the hints that it offers about the future direction of urban theory."--Contemporary Sociology

"[This] book has the wonderful quality of making the reader question just the presumptions that the author would urge us to hold. His rich descriptions of 19th century class formation, and his respectful engagements with the works of Marxist theorists from a variety of intellectual and disciplinary traditions, teach a Marxism that is continually open and unfolding. For this reason, I hope that many people will read and learn from this book."--Journal of Regional Science

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (January 6, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0198279248
• ISBN-13: 978-0198279242
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,206,969 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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