Tuff City Urban Change and Contested Space in Central Naples [Paperback]

During the 1990s, Naples left-wing administration sought to tackle the citys infamous reputation of being poor, crime-ridden, chaotic and dirty by reclaiming the citys cultural and architectural heritage. This book examines the conflicts surrounding the reimaging and reordering of the citys historic centre through detailed case studies of two piazzas and a centro sociale, focusing on a series of issues that include heritage, decorum, security, pedestrianization, tourism, immigration and new forms of urban protest. This monograph is the first in-depth study of the complex transformations of one of Europes most fascinating and misunderstood cities. It represents a new critical approach to the questions of public space, citizenship and urban regeneration as well as a broader methodological critique of how we write about contemporary cities.

Nick Dineslived and worked in Naples for seven years. He is research fellow in Sociology at Middlesex University, London.

List of Illustrations
List of Maps
List of Abbreviations
Preface

Introduction

PART I: URBAN CHANGE IN ANORDINARY CITY: NAPLES DURING THE 1990s

Chapter 1.The Centro Storico: History of a Concept and Place
Chapter 2.Between the General and the Particular: A Neapolitan Version of 'Urban Regeneration'
Chapter 3.The Left, the Politics of Citizenship and Shifting Ideas about Naples
Chapter 4.Public Space and Urban Change

PART II: THE MAKING OF A REGENERATION SYMBOL: HERITAGE, DECORUM AND THE INCURSIONS OF THE EVERYDAY IN PIAZZA PLEBISCITO

Chapter 5.Enter the Historic Piazza
Chapter 6.From Royal Courtyard to Car Park
Chapter 7.The Regeneration of Piazza Plebiscito
Chapter 8.Sous les Pav?s, la Place!An EthnogrlÃ#