Catalytic Mega-Events - (Urban Studies) by Filippo Bignami & Christian Dimmer & Erez Golani Solomon & Devena Haggis & Naomi C Hanakata (Paperback)

About the Book

Starting from the case of Tokyo 2020, the contributors bring about planetary trajectories of urban transformation today from both a theoretical and empirical perspective.

Book Synopsis

Mega events are accelerators of urban transformation with lasting effects on urban environments. In the spotlight of the spectacle these crucial factors are often ignored, deliberately underestimated or underreported. They pertain every aspect of urban living, making mega-events more than instances of ambitious overspending, but ruptures in the established modes of urban production amplifying social and political inequalities. In this volume, authors with different perspectives and from different geographies and disciplines are gathered to create a unique reflection on mega-events at the intersection of culture, sports, planning and politics. Starting from the case of Tokyo 2020, the contributors bring about planetary trajectories of urban transformation today from both a theoretical and empirical perspective.

About the Author

Filippo Bignami, born in 1970, holds a PhD in political and social sciences. He works as senior researcher and lecturer at Fachhochschule Südschweiz, Department of Economics, Health and Social Sciences. His main scientific interest and expertise is in citizenship social and political theories and applied studies on citizenship urban policies and education.
Christian Dimmer is associate professor for Urban Studies at Waseda University's School of International Liberal Studies (SILS) since 2021. He graduated with honours from the Spatial and Environmental Planning program of the Technical University of Kaiserslautern. He earned his PhD from the University of Tokyo on the emergence of public space ideas in Japanese modern urban planning. His research interests are urban commons, transition design and community design.
Erez Golani Solomon is a senior lecturer in architectural design and theory at the architecture department and the Graduate Program in Urban Design of Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design, Jerusalem. He earned his Ph.D. in architecture from the University of Tokyo in 2006, and he has since been involved in teaching and research projects in Japan. His research work encompasses a range of issues concerning the contemporary city, and the ramifications of architectural developments under contemporary cultures and politics.
Devena Haggis received her Ph.D from the University of Tsukuba in Japan. She is a lecturer at Ryutsu Keizai University. Her research interests include sport heritage and Olympic and Paralympic education.
Naomi C. Hanakata is an assistant professor for urban design at the College for Design and Environment at the National University of Singapore. She is also co-founder and consultant of HANAKATA, a research and planning practice based in Singapore. Her work focuses on the research and development of adaptive planning strategies to deal with uncertainties and dynamic urban futures in urban development and planning.