Theories of Urban Politics and Policies in a Changing Context

Abstract

Talking about a possible ‘resurgence of cities’ in social scientific terms requires making an important analytical distinction between two questions that evidently point towards different epistemological interests. On the one hand, we can ask whether cities have become more relevant empirically in social, political and economic terms compared to other levels of social integration and collective action (such as the regional, national, or supranational). On the other hand, however, we can focus on academic debates as such, asking how an increasing scientific interest in cities is currently being conceptualized and reflected upon. At first sight, these two questions might appear to be almost identical, as it is obvious that scientific debates should be based upon phenomena that have become empirically manifest. However, detecting actual transformations does not yet automatically entail the development of the scientific tools that will be necessary so as to reflect on these shifts in a systematic way. Secondly, it is evident that social scientific revolutions or incremental changes do not necessarily have to be based upon empirical foundations-paradigmatic scientific changes can also occur as sudden surges and internal shifts in an academic community, without being directly linked to societal developments (Kuhn 1962; Judge et al. 1995: 31; Hoyningen-Huene 1989: 142-3).