Collection 

The politics of an urban age

Editors: Dr Michele Acuto (University of Melbourne, Australia), Dr Joana Setzer (London School of Economics and Political Science, UK), Enora Robin (University College London, UK), Dr Kristin Ljungkvist (Uppsala University, Sweden).

Scope: Since 2015, the international community has been drawing the contours of the new global Sustainable Development Agenda. With most of the world’s population now living in urban areas, cities more than ever have been called into action to help solve some of the most pressing challenges of our time, such as climate change, growing inequalities, economic instability, and pandemics. The third United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development discussed the ways in which municipalities across the world can actually help tackle these challenges. Yet, recognising the increasing roles of city-governments in finding urban solutions to global problems raises various questions in relation to the changing politics of the ‘urban age’ and the governance challenges posed by the apprehension of global and trans sectorial issues through an urban lens. 

This article collection explores the political and governance implications of the urban age at various scales, disciplinary vantage points, and geographical perspectives. 

Watch our panel discussion on ‘Who governs the future of cities?’.

All papers submitted to Collections are subject to the journal’s standard editorial criteria and policies. This includes the journal’s policy on competing interests.

aerial view of new york city at night

Articles