ABSTRACT
This chapter aims to question the descriptive and explanatory potential of the notion of neoliberalization. It looks at the emergence of sustainability in urban policies to show that although this slogan may have been driven onto the agenda by grassroots actors characterized by both a very clear drive to make cities competitive and a concern with building local coalitions capable of producing urban policies. The chapter demonstrates that the descriptive potential of notion of neoliberalization and especially the relevance of the roll-back/roll-out periodization to describe the evolution of urban environmental policies. It discusses the selectiveness of urban sustainability policies by reference to two eco-neighbourhood projects: Ile de Nantes in Nantes and New Islington in Manchester. The chapter suggests that a more empirically driven use of the notion of neoliberalization, which, despite certain limitations, provides vital tools for understanding the transformation of urban environmental policies.
