Publics and the City

"Rich and varied case studies make the material accessible ... .An original, engaging, and interesting contribution to debates about the uses, meanings, and urban dimensions of public address and public space." (American Journal of Sociobiology, February 2010)

"An important book ... .Compelling." (Progress in Human Geography, February 2010)

“Iveson clearly demonstrates why issues of publicness should be of concern to all geographers, and he suggests that there is too much at stake to accept existing normative assumptions about the decline of the public sphere.” (Cultural Geographies, October 2008)

"A fascinating and well argued book which convincingly explores the relationship between the public sphere – or publicness – and the city. It is an engaging and fruitful conversation between urban studies and critical social theories of the public sphere, which draws on a series of illuminating case studies."
Allan Cochrane, Open University

"Urban public spaces are arenas of political action but also of both public and private efforts to manage popular behaviour. This series of engaging Australian case studies and insightful analyses helps clarify both sets of issues. It should be of interest to everyone who cares about urban life, popular politics, and the intersection of place and identity."
Craig Calhoun, NYU