Changing Toronto: Governing Urban Neoliberalism

Description:

"With an eye for global forces, this panoramic account revolves around a focus on social, spatial, and environmental justice in the city, offering a lively riposte to both dull academicism and theatrical boosterism." - Kanishka Goonewardena, University of Toronto

Brief description: Julie-Anne Boudreau is Associate Professor at the Center for Urbanisation, Culture, and Society of the National Institute for Scientific Research in Montreal. She holds the Canada Research Chair on the City and Issues of Insecurity. Her recent work focuses on fear in the city and fear of the city.

Review Quotes:

At last, we have a book that does for Toronto what Mike Davis did for Los Angeles with City of Quartz. With an eye for global forces, as well as textures of everyday life bearing on urban politics in the neoliberal era, this panoramic account revolves around a sharp focus on social, spatial, and environmental justice in the city, offering a lively riposte to both the dull academicism and the theatrical boosterism of Toronto. Changing Toronto is not only a must-read for students and activists of Toronto, but also a valuable contribution to critical urban studies.

Changing Toronto is generously large in scope, jumping ably from Jane and Finch to the agony of the disappearing middle classes, from Markham's water regime to the obsession with superstars and beauty in planning discourse. Its careful reflection of Toronto's neoliberal past and present offers readers an understanding of how the global affects the local in ways that raise important questions for current political practices. It will force readers to take a challenging, critical look at the city.