Public Spheres After Socialism

The idea of public spacescity parks, waterfront bike paths, and bustling squareshas long been associated with urban environments.Public Spheres After Socialismchallenges this idea in light of the end of the cold war and the disintegration of the Soviet Union. Drawing together experiences from across Europe, this innovative volume reconsiders the public sphere as a figurative, or mythical, location where members of society shape and determine its values. This book examines monuments, reconstruction, film, and new media to ask whether public spaces are viable in an age of globalized consumerism.

Angela Harutyunyan is a PhD candidate in art history and visual studies at the University of Manchester.
Kathrin Hörschelmann is a lecturer in the Department of Geography and associate director of the Centre for the Study of Cities and Regions at Durham University.
Malcolm Miles is a reader in cultural theory at the University of Plymouth.