This course reviews theoretical frameworks and debates over the last 100 years as produced by scholars, planners, architects, and activists, as well as others whose intellectual work wasn't necessarily 'urban' but has since informed the field. This body of work provides insights into debates such as:

• Does the built environment influence community and other forms of social organization?
• Can the city, its forms, and its processes be explained by non-urban social forces and spatial scales? If so, what is the significance of 'the urban'?
• How can theory be used to understand cities that are arguably too diverse and few to make scientific generalizations from?

Learning objectives

1. To understand how classic theories and debates frame the ways scholars and planners understand the city today.

2. To explore the new directions and concerns of contemporary urban theory.

3. To develop fluency in using theory for the purposes of asking questions, organizing analysis, and appreciating the implications in your own intellectual work.