Comparative Urbanism Tactics for Global Urban Studies

'Comparative Urbanism fully transforms the scope and purpose of urban studies today, distilling innovative conceptual and methodological tools. The theoretical and empirical scope is astounding, enlightening, emboldening. Robinson peels away conceptual labels that have anointed some cities as paradigmatic and left others as mere copies. She recalibrates overly used theoretical perspectives, resurrects forgotten ones long in need of a dusting off, and brings to the fore those often marginalised. Robinson's approach radically re-distributes who speaks for the urban, and which urban conditions shape our theoretical understandings. With Comparative Urbanism in our hands, we can start the practice of urban studies anywhere and be relevant to any number of elsewheres.'
Jane M. Jacobs, Professor of Urban Studies, Yale-NUS College, Singapore
 

'How to think the multiplicity of urban realities at the same time, across different times and rhythmic arrangements; how to move with the emergences and stand-stills, with conceptualisations that do justice to all things gathered under the name of the urban. How to imagine comparatively amongst differences that remain different, individualised outcomes, but yet exist in-common. No book has so carefully conducted a specifically urban philosophy on these matters, capable of beginning and ending anywhere.'
AbdouMaliq Simone, Senior Research Fellow, Urban Institute, University of Sheffield
 

'Jenny Robinson's strong belief in the need to experiment with comparative methods, theories and concepts in urban studies for 'a globally diverse urban' has long inspired many of us. In this book, she takes this plea forward in a comprehensive journey through philosophy, anthropology and geography. Her wonderful voice in this book takes the reader by the hand through a landscape of ideas and a heartfully felt passion for comparative urbanism. Written by one of the most original geographers of our times, it provides resources to make interdisciplinary scholarship work by drawing on many theoretical angles from various corners of the field of social sciences and humanities. It is a must-read for all of us interested in that 'impossible' object of our studies, the urban, whether we are starting to explore this field of study or share the dearly felt need to re-imagine our central concepts in this rapidly changing world.'
Talja Blokland, Department of Social Sciences, Humboldt-University of Berlin