Henri Lefebvre: The Right to the City

Lefebvre, H. (1968). The Right to the City. In E. Kofman & E. Lebas (Eds.), Writings on

Cities. (147 159). Oxford: Blackwell Publishers Ltd.

Sep 11

Synopsis

Lefebvre argues that cities are no longer what their historical purpose was: to provide

‘ouvre’ anthropological needs for information, symbolism, the imaginary and play.

Cities in his opinion became empty theatres of consumer goods for tourists.

He argues that only working class has the power to take action and power into their

hands. Lefebvre suggests a program of urban renewal to be put forward and presented

preferentially to the ‘left’ parties or political formations who would be willing to represent

the working class.