New book The Broken Promise of Infrastructure tackles the divisive cultural politics that have been used to deflect attention away from Britain’s failing infrastructure, from Brexit through to the ‘levelling up’ agenda. Building on more than a decade of research, this book argues that infrastructure projects are always far more than concrete and steel: they can reinforce nationalist narratives, undermine regional identities, and place real limits on our politics.
Next month, you can join author Dominic Davies at independent radical bookshop October Books in Portswood, Southampton, for a discussion of what – or rather who – really makes Britain work. Dominic is an academic and author whose research focuses on how infrastructure is lived, imagined, and experienced. He is particularly interested in the cultural politics of infrastructure as they take shape through contexts of empire, nationalism, and racial capitalism. Dominic is currently a Senior Lecturer in English at City, University of London. More information about his research is available at drdomdavies.com
‘Offering an exhilarating journey through time and space, Davies is an expert guide through the ruins of a once imperial power to the hollow fantasy of what passes today as ‘levelling up’. This exciting book explains why the performative politics of planning and architecture are far too important to be left to the professionals.’
–Vron Ware, author of Return of a Native: Learning from the Land.
The event will take place on Saturday 4th May, 2pm – 4pm.
Tickets £3, via Lemon Booking. The cost of an event ticket goes towards helping support your local independent bookshop and community space. Free tickets are available as part of October Books’ commitment to making our events accessible to all.
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