Suburbia in the 21st Century: From Dreamscape to Nightmare?

International perspective: the books showcases what is happening as well as how and why things are changing in the suburbs and how the suburbs and policymakers are responding to these changes in a rich mix of nations. These include: Australia, Canada, Finland, France, Ireland, Spain, the UK and the US. Multi-disciplinary: the book analyses suburbia through a set of inter-related academic disciplines – urban planning, geography, sociology and cultural studies – that help develop a more rounded understanding of the meanings/perceptions, condition/challenges and prospects of the suburbs in the 21st century. Rich mix of case studies: the book offers insights into the structure and nature of the suburbs by examining a number of discrete, but inter-connected, issues. These include: an ageing population; multiculturalism and migration; the significance of the shopping mall in suburban life; changing housing markets; demographic and spatial trends within and across suburbia; and, people’s attachment and attitudes towards the suburbs. Enhancing knowledge: the book provides a rich mix of theoretical and empirical analysis on the suburbs which will help enhance not only academic knowledge but also policy knowledge and understanding. Fosters Mentoring/Development: the book includes contributions from a mix of established and early career academics and will thus act as a platform for fostering academic networking, mentoring and development that the editors will play an instrumental role in facilitating as they oversee the production and completion of this book.