ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of key concepts covered in the subsequent chapters of this book. The primary goal of the book is to assemble the writings of both leading and emerging scholars in the field of critical toponymy to demonstrate how conceptually and empirically rich analyses of the politics of street naming have much to offer to contemporary theorizations of space, place, and landscape. Drawing upon a wide range of case studies from Europe, North America, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Asia, the contributions in the book provide detailed accounts of how the practices of street naming have been instrumental to the reshaping of urban spatial imaginaries, the cultural politics of place, and material struggles over the right to the city. Finally, the book offers some concluding reflections on the future horizons of critical toponymic inquiry.
