Course info

This course investigates the intricate dynamics of global cities, using the concept of urban citizenship as its analytical framework. It posits that global cities, as hubs of economic, social, and cultural activity, are also sites of intense polarization, where uneven flows of people, capital, and information create stark inequalities and social stratifications. The course critically examines how global cities become arenas of territorialization, where institutional and social forces converge to construct, contest, and reshape urban boundaries. Central to the course is the exploration of how violence and exclusion are embedded in the urban fabric, both normalized and challenged by various actors. The interplay between “the right to the city” (droit à la ville) and “the right of city” (droit de cité) forms a key theoretical focus, assessing how these rights are claimed and contested by different groups, and how they influence citizens' mobility, access, and everyday life in urban spaces. The practical dimension of the course maps acts of resistance, subversion, and cultural reinvention within the cityscape, particularly as marginalized communities navigate and challenge urban vulnerabilities. Through these acts, the course highlights the potential for urban spaces to serve as arenas for alternative models of citizenship, beyond conventional frameworks. Students will analyse the processes through which urban environments can be reimagined to foster inclusivity, diversity, and justice. By the end of the course, students will have developed critical tools for analysing urban phenomena, particularly around inclusion and exclusion. They will be well-equipped to identify and assess forms of urban resistance and to propose innovative, theoretically grounded strategies for enhancing urban citizenship and reshaping global city spaces. Tailored for students and professionals in urban studies, sociology, political science, and related disciplines, this course provides essential skills for understanding and influencing the evolving landscapes of global cities.