Introduction

This chapter explores the context of urban deindustrialization as an economic, cultural and ecological process embedded in late capitalism. The new spatial relationships that evolve in the wake of deindustrialization are fascinating, especially when these spaces are neglected and forgotten by the urban mainstream. Often interpreted as industrial ruins and urban wastelands, these are places where life thrives in new and unexpected ways. In addition to serving as potential ecological assets, these are often places of deep meaning and attachment for marginalized communities. In contrast to overtly planned and designed greenspaces, these often exist beyond the dominant logic of urban development and aesthetic conventions. They are also places where local communities might mobilize to advance self-defined needs, priorities and preferences. Two brief case studies are introduced, in Berlin and Honolulu, to illustrate some of the main currents of the book.