Power and Architecture: The Construction of Capitals and the Politics of Space

Description

Capital cities have been the seat of political power and central stage for their state's political conflicts and rituals throughout the ages. In the modern era, they provide symbols for and confer meaning to the state, thereby contributing to the “invention” of the nation. Capitals capture the imagination of natives, visitors and outsiders alike, yet also express the outcomes of power struggles within the political systems in which they operate. This volume addresses the reciprocal relationships between identity, regime formation, urban planning, and public architecture in the Western world. It examines the role of urban design and architecture in expressing (or hiding) ideological beliefs and political agenda. Case studies include “old” capitals such as Rome, Vienna, Berlin and Warsaw; “new” ones such as Washington DC, Ottawa, Canberra, Ankara, Bonn, and Brasília; and the “European” capital Brussels. Each case reflects the authors'different disciplinary backgrounds in architecture, history, political science, and urban studies, demonstrating the value of an interdisciplinary approach to studying cities. Title Page Table of Contents Acknowledgments List of Figures List of Maps Introduction- Power and Architecture: The Construction of Capitals, the Politics of Space, and the Space of Politics Chapter 1- Capital Architecture and National Identity Chapter 2- A City of the People, by the People, for the People?: Democracy and Capital-Building in Washington, DC, Ottawa, Canberra, and Brasilia Chapter 3- Capital-Building in Post-War Germany Chapter 4- Berlin: Three Centuries as Capital Chapter 5- Image, Itinerary, and Identity in the "Third" Rome Chapter 6- "A Capital without a Nation": Red Vienna, Architecture, and Spacial Politics between the World Wars Chapter 7- The Ruins of Socialism: Reconstruction of Socialism: Reconstruction and Destruction in Warsaw Chapter 8- State Building as an Urban Experience: The Making of Ankara Chapter 9- Building Capital Mindscapes for the European Union Notes on Contributors Index