From Urbanization to Cities: Towards a New Politics of Citizenship

In this scholarly critique, Murray Bookchin sets out his ideas about the nature of community. Bookchin presents resounding arguments suggesting that the tension between rural and urban societies can be a vital source of human creativity, potentially enabling the power of the individual and restoring the positive values and quality of urban life. Tracing the history of the city from pre-history through the Ancient Greek "polis" to the medieval city state, Bookchin reclaims the idea of the city as a major creative force in our civilization. Advocating a new approach to politics, this work offers a case for a new municipal agenda revitalizing citizenship and city life.