Urban and Regional Development Trajectories in Contemporary Capitalism

This book re-evaluates a rich scientific heritage of space- and history-sensitive development theories and produces an integrated methodology for the comparative analysis of urban and regional trajectories within a globalized world. The main argument put forward is that current mainstream analyses of urban and regional development have forgotten this rich heritage and fail to address the connections between different dimensions of development, the role of history and the importance of place and scale relations.

The proposed methodology integrates elements from different theories - radical economic geography, regulation approach, cultural political economy, old and new institutionalism - that all share a strong concern with time and space dynamics. They are recombined into an interdisciplinary (meta)theoretical framework, capable of articulating the overall problem of socio-economic development and providing methodological anchors for comparative case-study analysis, while recognizing context specificities. The analytical methodology focuses on key dynamics and relations, such as strategic agency and collective action, institutions and structures, culture and discourse, as well as the tension between path-dependency and path-shaping.

The methodology is then applied to eight urban and regional cases, mostly from Western Europe, but also from the United States and China. The case studies confirm the relevance of time- and space-sensitive analysis, not only for understanding development trajectories, but also for policy making. They ultimately highlight that, while post-war institutions were able to address systemic contradictions and foster a relatively inclusive development model, the neoliberal turn has led to reductionist policies that not only have resulted in an increase in social and spatial inequalities, but have also undermined growth and democracy.

Preface Ronan O'Brien 1. Introduction Frank Moulaert, Andreas Novy and Flavia Martinelli 2. Theoretical Foundations for the Analysis of Socio-economic Development in Space Frank Moulaert and Bob Jessop 3. The DEMOLOGOS Methodology for Analyzing Urban and Regional Trajectories Andreas Novy, Abid Mehmood and Frank Moulaert 4. London between Global Narcissism and National Responsibility Delphine Ancien and Frank Moulaert 5. Brussels Stijn Oosterlynck and Erik Swyngedouw 6. Vienna between East and West Andreas Novy, Daniela Coimbra Swiatek and Lukas Lengauer 7. Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta in China Erik Baark, Yun-Chung Chen, Ngai Pun and Alvin So 8. Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta as a Cross-border Region Ngai-Ling Sum 9. Chicago beyond Fordism Jamie Peck and Nik Theodore 10. Rome Pasquale De Muro, Salvatore Monni, Pasquale Tridico 11. The Southern Question in Italy Flavia Martinelli 12. Reggio Calabria, Southern Italy Stefania Barillà, Giuseppe Fera and Flavia Martinelli 13. Newcastle upon Tyne and the 'Northern Way' Stuart Cameron and Sara González 14. Urban and Regional Trajectories between Path-dependency and Path-shaping Flavia Martinelli and Andreas Novy