Urban renaissance?: New Labour, community and urban policy

Product Description This book documents and assesses the core of New Labour's approach to the revitalisation of cities, that is, the revival of citizenship, democratic renewal, and the participation of communities to spear head urban change. In doing so, the book explores the meaning, and relevance, of 'community' as a focus for urban renaissance. It interrogates the conceptual and ideological content of New Labour's conceptions of community and, through the use of case studies, evaluates how far, and with what effects, such conceptions are shaping contemporary urban policy and practice. The book is an important text for students and researchers in geography, urban studies, planning, sociology, and related disciplines. It will also be of interest to officers working in local and central government, voluntary organisations, community groups, and those with a stake in seeking to enhance democracy and community involvement in urban policy and practice. Review ... a valuable contribution to the urban policy literature and a helpful teaching resource. Housing StudiesThis book is original as it is the first to really grapple with post-1997 urban policy. Urban renaissance? delivers new contributions in terms of our grounded understandings of community within Blair's urban Britain. Martin Jones, Institute of Geography and Earth Sciences, University of Wales AberystwythThere is a great deal in here that will keep the reader interested not only now but also, I suspect, in years to come... In a policy area where there are relatively few empirical and reflective pieces this is a welcome and worthwhile addition to the literature. Town Planning Review, Vol. 77 (2)"... this book is a welcome addition to my shelf ... the focus on 'community', the mix of theoretical perspectives and the range of empirical findings mean that Urban renaissance? highlights the continuing (and perhaps deepening) contradictions in state intervention in our cities." Progress in Human Geography"I enjoyed this book and recommend it to readers who are looking for a thorough overview of urban policies in th Uk from an empirical and politically sensitive perspective." Journal of Housing Builts Environs... a very good book that is easy to read and challenging throughout and one that is to be recommended to all involved in regenerating communities or urban policy work. Environment and Planning C... a valuable contribution to the urban policy literature and a helpful teaching resource. Housing Studies"... a valuable book, significant in its in-depth analysis of New Labour's use of 'community' and its practical policy outcomes and effects ... all contributors offer insights to the possibilities, problems, contradictions and challenges facing urban renaissance." Housing, Theory and Society About the Author Rob Imrie is Professor of Human Geography in the Department of Geography at Royal Holloway, University of London. Mike Raco is Lecturer in Economic Geography in the Department of Geography at the University of Reading.