Community News submitted by: Deirdre Oakley, Georgia State University
Urban policy is not only written or legislated—it is performed. From public housing and greenspace initiatives to immigration policy and gentrification, policies rely on carefully constructed narratives and public performances that shape how people understand cities, who belongs in them, and who benefits from change. The Performative City introduces the reader to a critical framework for analyzing how urban policies create not only physical spaces but also social meanings, exclusions, and inequalities. Topics include the racial politics of gentrification, contested public housing policies, performative greenspace projects, and the complexities of immigrant belonging. Designed for use in urban studies, sociology, public policy, and planning courses, The Performative City equips students with the tools to critically engage with the policies and performances that shape urban life.
