ABSTRACT
This chapter explores some general observations about the changing socio-spatial form and scope of urban politics. It examines three questions: What are urban politics? Where are such politics to be found? And what are some of the significant, newly emerging spaces of urban politics? The chapter suggests that the analysis of urban politics should continue to be about struggles around the socio-distributional effects of capitalist urban development and struggles for the recognition and inclusion of diverse citizen voices in urban political processes. It describes the socio-spatial characteristics of the 'urban' more closely, it is important to note that there has been much discussion amongst critical urban scholars over the years about the changing substance of urban politics. The chapter suggests that one can only get only so far in understanding the changing nature of urban politics by looking at how it varies from one city to another. It also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.
