From contestation to reclamation: The strive for spatial justice

This chapter explores the spatial manifestations of social justice beyond the hegemony of the ‘Western city’ by examining specific instances of spatial justice and injustice in urban areas across the globe, which face an array of multi-faceted and complex challenges, such as intensifying spatial fragmentation and inequality. Written in the context of the Spatial Justice module, this chapter is organised around the four primary themes arising from the student submissions, namely unequal spatial distribution of resources and services, multiple disadvantages facing vulnerable communities, austerity and the
privatisation of public goods, and grassroots intervention. Ultimately, it argues that urban spaces, as primary sites for the manifestation of injustice, remain significant in the fight for reclaiming the right to the city, and calls for dynamic and context-sensitive solutions that can cater to the specific needs of diverse localities, and can respond to the complexities and intricacies that shape the every-day lived experiences of urban dwellers.