Reflections on Democracy and Urban Form

Leading scholars explore the connections between democracy and justice, architecture and urban design, the growth of cities, cosmopolitanism, inclusion, and free speech.

This book builds on conversations that took place in the fall of 2024 at Harvard’s Graduate School of Design to mark the release of the book Democracy and Urban Form, co-published by Harvard Design Press and Sternberg Press. The original book presented a series of six eponymous lectures given by sociologist Richard Sennett at the GSD in 1981. Despite having been delivered in a very different political climate, his core insights into the connections between democracy and justice, matters of architecture and urban design, the growth of cities, cosmopolitanism, inclusion, free speech, and other related matters remain highly relevant today. To reflect on these urgencies, the GSD invited political philosopher Michael Sandel to address themes from the new edition of his book Democracy’s Discontent. In his opening talk, Sandel encouraged the audience to consider what might account for the polarization that threatens democracy today, and what might be done about it. Following an analysis of the forces that were then about to decide the 2024 election, he proposes a bold project of civic renewal to reimagine the economy and empower citizens. The next day, these provocations informed a panel discussion that included Richard Sennett, Diane Davis, Claire Zimmerman, Markus Miessen, and Miguel Robles-Durán. As well as reflecting on Sandel’s talk specifically, they also more generally consider the state of democracy relative to architecture and the design and planning of cities and metropolitan regions.

Contributors
Diane E. Davis, Markus Miessen, Miguel Robles-Durán, Richard Sennett, Claire Zimmerman