Cultural Politics and Urbanization in Contemporary India
Summary
Contemporary India is witnessing a profound interplay between cultural politics and rapid urban expansion. This dynamic encompasses the contestation of urban space by state actors, private developers and grassroots communities, each invoking distinct narratives of heritage, identity and modernity. The neoliberal turn in urban governance has accelerated large-scale infrastructural projects and high-end real estate developments, reshaping land ownership patterns and intensifying socio-spatial inequalities. At the same time, urban residents employ cultural claims—from literary and artistic expressions to ritual practices—to negotiate citizenship rights and resist displacement. Across metropolises and secondary cities, informal settlements and peripheral neighbourhoods serve as crucibles for hybridity, where vernacular traditions adapt to global flows of capital and labour. This synthesis of political economy and cultural identity underpins debates on sustainability, equity and the right to the city, informing policy interventions and civic activism alike.
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Technical terms
Neoliberal urbanism: A mode of city governance prioritising market-driven development, deregulation and private investment in infrastructure and real estate.
Land banking: The practice of purchasing and holding land for speculative profit, often leading to under-utilisation of urban parcels.
Gentrification: A process of neighbourhood change characterised by influx of higher-income residents and capital, leading to displacement of original inhabitants.
Right to the city: A theoretical framework that frames urban space as a collective resource, advocating inclusive participation in decision-making and equitable access to amenities.
Adaptive reuse: The renovation and repurposing of existing buildings for new functions, balancing conservation of heritage value with contemporary needs.
References
- Who owns the city? Neoliberal urbanism and land purchases in Gurgaon, India. Urban Studies (2023).
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