By Debolina Majumder and Michaela Collord

Across the Global South, cities, and city-regions are growing fast, drawing attention to questions of urban development and its place in contemporary processes of capitalist development. But development for whom? By whom? These are pressing questions amidst growing (urban) inequalities. They are all the more preoccupying given widespread assumptions that urban labouring classes remain weak and, in many instances, ‘surplus’ to the needs of capital. Pushing back against these assumptions, researchers and organisers gathered recently to ask, what would urban development look like if it started with workers? What would it mean to envisionlabour-led urban development (LLUD) —rather than capital- or state-centred development? Their collective reflections follow, as does an invitation: join their conversation via a new listserv.

Read More »