Friday, January 28, 3-4:30pm EST (20:00 UTC)
Urban Inequality and Political Struggle: Socialism, Capitalism, and Global Cities in Transition
A GUHP Cities and Inequalities Dream Conversation Lightning Round Panel
(Watch on GUHP VIDS)
This panel brought together urban historians working on cities in moments of political transition in twentieth-century Latin America, Asia, and Eastern Europe. It examined how transitions in political ideology are reflected in cities and urban space, with particular attention to questions of inequality. To what extent do political transitions, whether independence struggles, revolutions, or military coups, affect processes of urban development? How are political ideals and aspirations, such as urban citizenship, equality, and rights to the city, tempered by material constraints, patterns of inequality, political opposition, or grassroots resistance? How do workers, landowners, tenants, and urban planners form alliances or contest different visions for the city?
The geographical breadth of the panel offered the exciting opportunity to collaborate across fields of study. The creative "lightning round" session format, with four 8-10-minute visual presentations modeled on the TED conference, ensured an engaging conversation with ample time for discussion and questions.
“Late Stalinist Inequalities on the Cityscape of Moscow” – Katherine Zubovich (University at Buffalo, SUNY)
“Housing Inequality in Socialist China: State Building Projects and Residual Neighborhoods” – Kristin Stapleton (University at Buffalo, SUNY
“Revolution, Corporatism, and Informality in 1940s Mexico City” – Emilio de Antuñano (Trinity University)
“Unequal Infrastructure: Building the Santiago Metro Under Democracy and Dictatorship” – Andra Chastain (Washington State University, Vancouver)
For more information about the papers and presenters, please refer to the Cities and Inequalities Dream Conversation page.