Why some cities are more effective than others at reducing inequalities in the built environment For the first time in history, most people live in cities. One in seven are living in slums, the most excluded parts of cities, in which the basics of urban life—including adequate housing, accessible sanitation, and reliable transportation—are largely unavailable. Why are some cities more successful than others in reducing inequalities in the built environment? In Urban Power , Benjamin Bradlow explores this question, examining the effectiveness of urban governance in two “megacities” in young democracies: São Paulo, Brazil, and Johannesburg, South Africa. Both cities came out of periods of authoritarian rule with similarly high inequalities and similar policy priorities to lower them. And yet São Paulo has been far more successful than Johannesburg in improving access to basic urban goods. Bradlow examines the relationships between local government bureaucracies and urban social movements that have shaped these outcomes. Drawing on sixteen months of fieldwork in both cities, including interviews with informants from government agencies, political leadership, social movements, private developers, bus companies, and water and sanitation companies, Bradlow details the political and professional conflicts between and within movements, governments, private corporations, and political parties. He proposes a bold theoretical approach for a new global urban sociology that focuses on variations in the coordination of local governing power, arguing that the concepts of “embeddedness” and “cohesion” explain processes of change that bridge external social mobilization and the internal coordinating capacity of local government to implement policy changes. "Finalist for the Political and Social Sciences Book Award, Forward INDIES" "Winner of the Best Book Award, Subnational Politics and Society Section of the Latin American Studies Association" "Honorable Mention for the Best Book Award, Sociology of Development Section of the American Sociological Association" "Winner of the Charles Tilly Best Book Award, Collective Behavior and Social Movements section of the American Sociological Association" " Urban Power is a landmark contribution to the study of urban governance and inequality, particularly in new democracies where addressing persistent patterns of social and spatial exclusion and improving the quality of life for slum residents are urgent priorities." ---Ivan Souza Vieira, International Journal of Urban and Regional Research " Urban Power offers an important and intriguing comparison of two cities, and a theoretical framework that should propel research on development and the local state for years to come" ---Marcel Paret, The Journal of Development Studies "Bradlow’s book illuminates how rapid urbanisation, entrenched inequality and fiscal constraints intersect. . . . For anyone interested in the politics of making cities fairer, it is essential reading." ---Astrid R.N. Haas, The Conversation "Benjamin Bradlow delivers an illuminating account of urban governance processes and their potential to reduce inequality. . . . Urban Power is a must-read to understand the factors underlying urban inequality and the pivotal role of civil society in urban development." ---Simón Escoffier, Perspectives on Politics “ Urban Power sheds light on the complexities of urban governance in two distinct cities known for their social movement activism. Bradlow shows that the way in which authorities engage with each other and with residents has great consequences for the advancement of democratic ideals. His argument is presented with care, insight, detailed documentation, and a commitment to critical inquiry.”— Diane E. Davis, Harvard University “Benjamin Bradlow offers a bold recipe for solving global poverty: strong states with ties to strong social movements can deliver public goods to the poorest of the world's poor. Through impressive fieldwork and clear conceptualizations, Bradlow gives us an answer to the most important question of our day. This book will launch an entirely new conversation in sociology.”— Monica Prasad, author of The Land of Too Much “Large cities in the Global South present us with tremendous contrasts: informal settlements next to luxury gated neighborhoods, heart-wrenching exclusion alongside innovative redistributive policies, and governing institutions that can seem simultaneously responsive and indifferent to popular demands. Benjamin Bradlow's landmark book compares attempts to reduce inequality in São Paulo and Johannesburg in recent decades, while developing a framework of urban power that is sure to inspire further research and debate in many other contexts. Carefully researched and sharply argued, this book is a wonderful exemplar of what a truly global urban sociology can be.”— Gianpaolo Baiocchi, author of We, the Sovereign Benjamin H. Bradlow is assistant professor of