Jessop, Bob
A neo-Gramscian approach to the regulation of urban regimes: accumulation strategies, hegemonic projects, and governance
The perspective on urban regimes presented here is based on a neo-Gramscian reading of the regulation approach as well as a classically Gramscian account of the reciprocal relations between state and civil society. In particular I argue that urban regimes can be fruitfully analyzed in terms of strategically selective combinations of political society and civil society, of government and governance, of 'hegemony armoured by coercion'. I also argue that such regimes may be linked to the formation of a local hegemonic bloc (or 'power bloc') and an historical bloc (or accumulation regime and its mode of regulation). To support these proposals I present some of Gramsci's ideas about the relations between the economic base and its superstructure as well as his key concepts for analysing the state and state power. This will enable me to show marked similarities between a Gramscian account of the state and regulationist views on the capital relation. In the light of these analogies I outline eight key lessons for an exploration of urban regimes inspired by a neo-Gramscian regulation approach and, drawing on more recent work in the regulation approach, I offer some reflections on current changes in urban regimes. My argument is shaped by European experience but I would also claim that the neo-Gramscian approach can be fruitfully applied elsewhere.
| Language | eng |
| Names |
[author] Jessop, Bob |
| Subjects |
Società Civile
Politica Urbana
Civil society
Urban policy |
