In Search of Canadian Political Culture - UBC Press

UBC Press
Tales of Two Cities
Women and Municipal Restructuring in London and Toronto
Sylvia Bashevkin
Lucid, succinct, and highly accessible. Readers with
an interest in urban affairs will find this book of great
value, while its women-centred approach to urban
citizenship will appeal to urban analysts and their students
in a range of disciplines. The author’s comparative
analysis of the social, political, and cultural characteristics
of two cities that have recently experienced
governmental reform is particularly compelling.
– Nirmala Rao, co-author of Governing London
This book links a rich and nuanced description of the
roles women played in local government in Toronto
and London to reflections on major political questions
- the nature of urban citizenship and the relationship
between gender and political inclusion. Tales of Two
Cities contributes to our growing understanding about
why cities matter and why women matter to cities.”
– Caroline Andrew, co-editor of Urban Affairs: Back on
the Policy Agenda
In this thought-provoking book, Sylvia Bashevkin
examines the consequences of divergent restructuring
experiences in London and Toronto. By focusing on the
forced amalgamation of local boroughs in Toronto and
the creation of a new metropolitan authority in London,
Tales of Two Cities explores the fallout for women as
urban citizens. Ultimately, context is crucial to whether
municipal change signals pessimism or promise.
Contents
Acknowledgments
Introduction
1 Restructuring Contexts
2 Seeking Public Office
3 Working from the Inside
4 Planning Ahead
5 Assessing Restructuring
6 Future Prospects
Appendix: Interview Schedules
Notes; Selected Bibliography; Index
Sylvia Bashevkin is Principal of University
College and a professor of political science at
the University of Toronto.
2006, 172 pages, 3 tables, 6 x 9”
0-7748-1278-8 / 978-0-7748-1278-8
cloth $85.00
0-7748-1279-6 / 978-0-7748-1279-5
paper $29.95
www.ubcpress.ca / 1 877 864 8477 27