The urban sociology of castells,manuel - a critical-examination of the central concepts

Abstract

The writings of Manuel Castells are centrally concerned with the development of a Marxist urban sociology. This article provides a critical examination of the central concepts of these writings. The article begins with some preparatory remarks on Castells's critique of conventional urban sociology and on the Althusserian variant of historical materialism which he adopts. This is followed by an examination of the four central concepts of Castells's work, namely, collective consumption, the urban system, urban planning and urban social movements. It will be argued throughout that, although Castells's writings may act as a catalyst in the future development of a Marxist urban sociology, the conceptual core of his work makes no substantial contribution per se towards this development.