The Urban Question

work by Castells

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Last updated

July 14, 2026

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Manuel Castells' The Urban Question views cities as arenas for social conflicts stemming from class divisions within capitalist societies. This perspective contrasts with earlier ideas that saw cities primarily as sources of cultural roles. Castells' work, influenced by Marxism, suggests that urban life and its associated cultural forms are shaped by the broader capitalist system and its inherent inequalities. The book examines how these societal conflicts manifest within urban environments, influencing the development of urban cultures and the lives of their inhabitants.12

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urban culture
Definitions of the city and urban cultures
…City, 1973), Manuel Castells (The Urban Question, 1977), and other scholars influenced by Marxism caused a major shift in the conception of urban cultural roles. Although they mainly worked on cities in advanced capitalist cultures, their approach had wide relevance. Rather than looking outward from the city to the…
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…City, 1973), Manuel Castells (The Urban Question, 1977), and other scholars influenced by Marxism caused a major shift in the conception of urban cultural roles. Although they mainly worked on cities in advanced capitalist cultures, their approach had wide relevance. Rather than looking outward from the city to the…
Read More