Introduction

Since the 1960s, European industrial cities have faced economic decline, leading to unemployment, factory closures, and socioeconomic challenges. This volume, based on discussions from the 2020 conference “Rethinking the Histories and Legacies of Industrial Cities”, explores the role of mediators in shaping public knowledge and policy responses to deindustrialisation. Mediation, as examined here, involves the transfer and interpretation of information among affected communities, policymakers, and the broader public. The book identifies three forms of mediation: first, the role of social scientists, activists, and local organisations in documenting lived experiences of deindustrialisation; second, the influence of policymakers, media, and trade unions in shaping future visions for post-industrial cities; and third, the use of industrial heritage and cultural narratives in framing public memory of industrial decline. Through case studies across Europe, the volume highlights how mediation processes influenced public perceptions and policy actions, demonstrating that deindustrialisation was neither linear nor universally experienced. By analysing mediation practices, this work provides new insights into how industrial decline has been understood, contested, and repurposed in different historical and geographical contexts.