The City and the Grassroots

Manuel Castells' work, "The City and the Grassroots," examines social movements within industrial cities, particularly in American and European contexts. Castells views cities as arenas where social conflicts arise from class divisions inherent in capitalist society.12

His research highlights how these movements resist the capitalist rationalization of urban environments. This resistance often involves efforts to preserve public services and spaces for their use value, advocating for municipal responsibility over privatization. Additionally, movements aim to maintain the cultural identity of neighborhoods against disruptive urban development.1

The book explores how these grassroots efforts challenge the prevailing economic logic that prioritizes profit over community needs and cultural preservation.1