Networked Urbanism

In spite of considerable interest in social capital amongst urban policy makers and academics alike, there is currently little direct focus on its urban dimensions. In this volume, leading urban researchers from the Netherlands, the UK, USA, Australia, Italy and France explore the nature of social networks and the significance of voluntary associations for contemporary urban life."Networked Urbanism" shows that there is currently a sense of crisis in the cohesion of the city which has led to public attempts to encourage networking, and the fostering of 'social capital'. However, the contributors collectively demonstrate how changing forms of 'networked urbanism' have broken from the kind of textured urban communities that existed in the past, revealing a need to recognize that new forms of exclusionary social capital are being generated, which fail to significantly resolve the problems of poor residents, whilst strengthening the position of the advantaged.Grounded in theoretical reflection and empirical research, "Networked Urbanism" will be controversial, and will be of interest to scholars and students of sociology, geography, and urban studies, as well as to policy makers.