Policy Press

The Forgotten City

Rethinking Digital Living for Our People and the Planet

By Phil Allmendinger

Published

May 25, 2021

Page count

240 pages

ISBN

978-1447356011

Dimensions

216 x 138 mm

Imprint

Policy Press

Published

May 25, 2021

Page count

240 pages

ISBN

978-1447356042

Dimensions

216 x 138 mm

Imprint

Policy Press

Published

May 25, 2021

Page count

240 pages

ISBN

978-1447356042

Dimensions

216 x 138 mm

Imprint

Policy Press
The Forgotten City

We all want cities, where more than half of the world’s population currently live, to be just, successful, clean, fair, green, sustainable, safe, healthy and affordable. Will ‘smart cities’ help achieve these aspirations or undermine them in the time of COVID-19?

Phil Allmendinger, a world expert on cities, development, and urban governance, takes a critical approach to the role of ‘smart’ in future cities and the relationship with city development. Considering how technology can support active citizenship, he challenges the commercial drivers of big tech and warns that these, not developments for ‘social good’, may dominate.

Focusing on the dangers posed by social media, the platform economy and AI, he sets out what those making decisions on city development need to understand in order to save the planet through active politics and healthy cities.

Phil Allmendinger is Professor of Land Economy and Fellow of Clare College at the University of Cambridge. From 2015 – 2020 he was Head of the School of the Humanities and Social Sciences and a Deputy Vice Chancellor.

Phil is a chartered planner and surveyor and advises governments around the world on future cities, urban issues and smart city development. He is the author of numerous books and papers on these issues.

A tale of two stories

The ‘smart city’ story

What happens when ‘smart’ comes to town

Unholy alliance: how government, academics and Big Tech are colluding in the takeover of our cities

Why we’re the problem (and the solution)

Our disconnected cities: what ‘smart’ should be about 1

Yesterday’s cities of the future

Why it’s different this time

Why bother to save the city?

Smart for cities: time for a new story